August 14, 2017 (Monday)
Today, August 14, known as VJ Day, is the anniversary of Japan’s surrender that ended World War II. (For some the date is August 15 because of the time zones). At the end of the war, casualties numbered in the millions and property loss was probably beyond measure. The announcement that the war had finally ended was the best news we had heard in a long time.
A Common Sight Across America on VJ Day
VE Day, Victory in Europe, is celebrated on May 5. There was rejoicing over VE Day, but even greater joy on VJ Day (pictured here), which ended hostilities worldwide. For some, the date is September 2, the date the surrender was formalized on board the U.S.S. Wisconsin in Tokyo Bay, with the signing of documents by top dignitaries.
World War I was fought as “the war to end all wars,” but within 21 years, Hitler invaded Poland and the fighting started all over again. America entered the war when Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. I was ten years old when the war came to America, and I wrote a poem that began, “War is a terrible thing..” It certainly had been terrible, but on August 14, 1945, it was finally over.
Click here to find 3 blogs about my meeting Mister Hasime Onishi, pilot of a plane that delivered diplomats to surrender negotiations in Manilla.