WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — World War II veterans and others gathered at the National World War II Memorial on Sept. 2 to commemorate the end to the conflict which pitted Allied forces against Axis powers for nearly six years.
Victory over Japan Day, or V-J Day, is the date in 1945 when representatives of Japan formally signed documents of surrender, bringing World War II to an end. The ceremony took place on USS Missouri, while the ship was anchored in Tokyo Bay.
V-J Day came months after Victory in Europe Day, or V-E Day, when Nazi Germany unconditionally surrendered to the Allies.
It was Germany that started the conflict when its forces invaded Poland in 1939. Great Britain and France declared war on Germany after that. Italy and Japan joined the Nazi forces, establishing the main Axis powers that fought against the Allies.
The United States entered the conflict after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, a date which President Franklin Delano Roosevelt referred to as one that would “live in infamy,” as it has.
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Those at the memorial on Sept. 2 will place wreaths at its Freedom Wall in remembrance of the more than 400,000 Americans and 60 million people killed worldwide during World War II. Representatives from the Friends of the National World War II Memorial and the National Park Service will provide remarks. Each World War II veteran who attends the commemoration will be introduced and thanked for their service during a “Parade of Heroes.”
The National World War II Memorial is located at 1750 Independence Ave. SW. The event is free and open to the public.
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