In May 1943, Army Cpl. Norman C. Spangler was driving a half-track for a small reconnaissance patrol in Germany when the group was surrounded on three sides.

Although he suffered a serious chest wound in the fighting, Spangler left his vehicle and took up a position to cover others.

Half a world away, Jim Cardamon was a boy singing "Remember Pearl Harbor" without knowing what the words meant.

Cardamon didn't know what the draft was, just that it meant three of his uncles would be going away for a long time.

While Spangler was experiencing the fear of combat, Cardamon cowered under his blanket when air raid sirens blew, and he was sure tanks would be barreling into town when he heard news reports about the Battle of the Bulge.

"I was too young to understand what had happened," said Cardamon, who was 6 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor 62 years ago Sunday.

Over time, Cardamon came to understand the sacrifices of Spangler and millions like him, whom he called heroes.

Speaking at Sunday's dedication of the World War II Memorial at the Mercer County Courthouse, Cardamon, co-chairman of the memorial committee, said the memorial lets people know what the Greatest Generation veterans did "not only for our country, but for the whole world."

After a lengthy introduction that included details of his 37è years in the Army, Gary Solanger deflected any personal credit for what he had accomplished.

"The people who are responsible for me serving 37 years in the military are the World War II veterans," said Solanger, Mercer County director of Veterans Affairs.

They leave "an America that's full of freedom, and that has all the constitutional freedoms the rest of the world wishes it had," he said.

Several hundred people braved the cold but sunny weather Sunday to dedicate the memorial and honor the contributions of the World War II veterans, most of whom are no longer with us.

Of the 16 million people who served, only three-quarters of them remain, said Vince Darcangelo, disabled veterans employment representative for Mercer County Career-Link.

Spangler, 79, of Hermitage, remembered deceased veterans after the ceremony, at which he also received the Bronze Star for his actions in 1943.

"I think it's very nice," he said of the memorial, after standing for dozens of photographs in front of it.

Jim Hamilton, a Mercer native who returned to his hometown from his home in North Carolina for the dedication, said he was happy with the turnout.

"Being a World War II vet, I think it's just wonderful," he said.

A Navy corpsman aboard a hospital ship, Hamilton didn't think much of his own service -- after the war he switched to the Army for a 21-year stint that included service in Korea -- choosing instead to remember the service of others.

Hamilton, 76, had three brothers who also served. His brother, Bill, was the first Mercer County serviceman to be awarded the Silver Star, he said.

"World War II was a tremendous loss of time and life and the like," he said. "But I think it was worthwhile."

The memorial is still about $24,000 short of its cost. To make a donation or buy a brick, call 724-662-3800, ext. 2212.

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