$Account.OrganizationName
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Victory Over Japan Day - Aug. 15, 1945
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Everyone at VetFriends.com salutes our Veteran brothers and sisters of WWII, along withAll of our U.S. Veterans, active & reserve military, and acknowledges your Courage, Bravery and Patriotism in fighting for our great country both past & present - Thank you.

U.S. Military HeroesV-J Day

Aug. 15, 1945 is the official date of V-J Day, or Victory over Japan Day. V-J Day followed Victory in Europe Day by three months, and with the surrender of Japan who was the last axis power remaining, V-J Day marks the end of World War II.

At noon Japan standard time, Aug. 15, 1945, the Imperial Rescript on Surrender speech by Emperor Hirohito stated Japan's acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration and was broadcast to the Japanese people via radio. The declaration stated that if Japan did not surrender and agree to the terms, "They would face prompt and utter destruction." Earlier the same day, the Japanese advised the Allies of their surrender by sending a cable to U.S. President Harry S. Truman. (Note: In U.S. time zones the date was Aug. 14th.)



V-J Day Newspaper - 1945V-J Day Newspaper - "White House Announces the War is Over"
The Evening Star newspaper (shown right) published on August 14, 1945 announces 'MacArthur to Receive Surrender of Japanese.'



Instrument of Surrender Ends Combat

Captured Japanese FlagSigned on the deck of the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945, the Instrument of Surrender of Japan was the actual armistice ending World War II. It was signed by representatives from Japan, the United States of America, the Republic of China, the United Kingdom, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Dominion of Canada, the Provisional Government of the French Republic, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Dominion of New Zealand. This officially ended WWII and the Pacific War.

Two Flags
The signing ceremony aboard the Missouri lasted 23 minutes and was broadcast throughout the world. Symbolically, the deck of the Missouri furnished two American flags:
  • One had flown over the White House on the day Pearl Harbor was attacked.
  • The other had flown the mast of Commodore Perry's ship when he first sailed into the harbor a century before.




    Background
    America's involvement in the war lasted from 1941-1945, with more than 16 million Americans who served and over 400,000 U.S. casualties. Throughout WWII, every effort was made to keep the memory of Pearl Harbor bright. Posters, inspirational songs and other media were staples of wartime popular culture, and flags that had flown at the Capitol and White House on 7 December 1941 were raised over fallen enemy capital cities.


    Historic Times Square Kiss PhotoLife Magazine - Famous V-J Day photo taken in Times Square 1945 by Alfred Eisenstaedt
    At this joyous celebration of V-J Day and the end of WWII, photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt captured this classic American photo.

    VetFriends.com sends our prayers to all who sacrificed, both past and present, living and deceased.
Thank You to our WWII Veterans...along with ALL of our U.S. Veterans and active Military!
We are here to honor and support all of you, our U.S. Veterans, military personnel, family and friends with great services such as Veteran search, post your military photos, reunion information and much more!


Collector's WWII DVDs


When the World Went to War Full 15 Disk Set
Winning an Emmy in 1950, this accurate and multi- faceted documentary, based on General Eisenhower's Crusade in Europe, gives profound insight into the military developments of WWII. Covers from 1939 to 1945, documenting all major events in a colossal 15 disk collector's set. Your Sale Price 15 DVD Set: $112.46
Each Volume: $22.49

See the Full Collection


WWII Air War DVDWWII Air War
5 remarkable films selected by specialists at the National Archives. Includes The Fight for the Sky, Air War in Europe & more. Emotional images and historical newsreel footage of some of the most intense air battles of WWII. Your Sale Price: $17.99

See the Full Collection



Browse Pride Items By Era:

World War II
Vietnam Veteran
Korea Veteran
Desert Storm
Iraq & More


Thanks and Have a Great Weekend!

Your Friends at VetFriends.com
Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard
Connecting People, Reuniting Thousands...





To ensure delivery of special VetFriends.com e-newsletters, please add newsletter@vetfriends.com to your email address book or safe list. Thank You Veteran & Military Brothers & Sisters!



You are receiving this email as a registered subscriber. To unsubscribe from future mailings or to change your newsletter profile, please follow the instructions below or enter your email address at http://www.vetfriends.com/unsubscribe.cfm
Thank you.


Contact Information
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~