Celebrating V-E Day and V-J Day Plus 75 Years (1945-2020)
May 8, 1945 • August 15, 1945
It was the beginning of the end — the end of World War II,
the War to end all wars and the beginning of a time for peace.
A time for all wars to cease! But with the passage of time,
Peace was short lived,
Today there are little fires everywhere —
with the potential of becoming larger conflagrations
and involving all nations.
On those two days, we were celebrating PEACE.
There was dancing in the streets, sirens were blaring, car horns honking,
Parades were quickly assembled, people gathered in front of veterans’ memorials
to hear speeches and to welcome back returning soldiers.
We honored all those who fought and mourned those who did not return — out of the 16 million Americans who wore the uniform during World War II.
Today, only a few soldiers remaining are now octogenarians, nonagenarians,
some even centenarians. We were amazed at their bravery and their dedication to get the job done. Many reluctant to speak of the horrors of war.
It was a time when people were in love with America.
Today, not so much!
There was no TV. We got our news from the newspaper, the radio, and the MovieTone News at the movie theater. People would stand and cheer, clap and shout whenever the American flag appeared. Some of the names that peppered the news stories still haunt us, names of faraway places that had us checking the world map to see where they were located and to check the progress of our troops:
Pearl Harbor, Iwo Jima, Midway Island, Okinawa,
Guadalcanal, Bataan (and its famous Death March),
Invasion of Normandy, Anzio Beachhead in Italy,
Troops land in Morocco and Algiers in Africa,
The Bridge over the Rhine at Remagen into Germany,
Battle of the Bulge at Bastogne
And, the familiar names of the officers who led the troops on land and sea:
MacArthur, Nimitz, Patton, Eisenhower, Bradley, Montgomery,
and those who worked behind the scenes — creating the
Enigma, the code breaking machine in the European Theater,
and the American Indian Code Talkers of the Pacific Theater.
Nor should we forget the tremendous loss of life. So many families fearful of that personally delivered message, “We regret to inform you …” Remembering the five Sullivan brothers — all lost in a Navy battle at sea. Imagine the heartache their parents felt receiving that message!
Nor should we forget the doctors, the nurses, and the medics who tried to keep body and soul together.
Nor should we forget those on the home front — parents, sisters, brothers, wives, children who wrote letters, sent CARE packages, and all who prayed for their safe return.
Nor should we forget the release of those imprisoned in concentration camps and prisoner-of-war camps. Oh, to be free. And, to hear the reverberating cry NEVER
AGAIN — short lived until the next time!
Author’s Note: I was 12 years old at this time in history and a student in the 8th grade. I remember morning exercises at school where we pledged allegiance to the flag, sang patriotic songs — the Star Spangled Banner, Marine’s Hymn, Anchors Away, Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder, There’s a Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere, Let’s Remember Pearl Harbor, AND buying stamps to fill a booklet which would then be converted into a war bond, children helping the cause. I wrote V-Mail letters and prayed for the safe return of my two brothers, one in the Pacific Theater, the other in Europe. On the two days cited in this piece, I recall sitting with my new puppy, a collie named King — trying to soothe him as the excitement in the town streets and the siren blaring was too much for him to bear. Thankfully, my brothers returned safely and went on to productive careers, one in education, the other in industry.
