#vjday75

Ladies and gentlemen, to all the people of the United States of America and Canada, to all our remaining living veterans of the Second World War of 1939-1945 and of all conflicts past and present and their families, to our veterans, active servicemen and women, reservists and families of the entire United States Armed Forces and Canadian Armed Forces, and to all the uniformed military and civil security services of the Allied combatants of this conflict, to all the immediate families, relatives, children and grandchildren of the deceased veterans, fallen service personnel and wounded personnel of our military services and civil uniformed security and civil defense services, to all our workers, farmers and intellectuals, to our youth and personnel serving in youth uniformed and cadet organizations and all our athletes, coaches, judges, sports trainers and sports officials, and to all our sports fans, to all our workers of culture, music, traditional arts and the theatrical arts, radio, television, digital media and social media, cinema, heavy and light industry, agriculture, business, tourism and the press, and to all our people of the free world:

Our greeting to the millions who today celebrate such an important day in our history.

On this very day in our history, in 1914, the Battle of Cer, the very first Allied victory in the First World War against the Central Powers, began.

On this day in 1920, the Polish Land Forces inflicted a heavy defeat on the Red Army in the outskirts of Warsaw in one of the greatest battles of the Polish-Soviet War, the Battle of Warsaw, more known as the “Miracle on the Vistula River”, today marked as Armed Forces Day in this great country.

On this day 73 years ago, Operation Dragoon, the Allied landing offensive for the liberation of Southern France, began with the landing of a multinational Allied landing force along the Provence coast thus starting the liberation of this part of France, helped by members of the French resistance movement in the region.

On this very day, the world marks the following national independence days:

Indian Independence Day (1948),

Republic of Korea National Day (1948),

And the National Day of the Republic of Congo (1960).

On this day 78 years ago in Liberty Field, Fort Benning, Georgia, just as the flames of war were striking the western half of the European continent, a test airborne platoon made one final jump and therefore, with their qualification achieved, these pioneer paratroopers jump started the formation of the airborne troops of the United States Army which will have their baptism of fire later on in this great conflict.

And today, August 15, as we continue to endure the greatest health crisis of our time, in solidarity with all the millions of medical workers and professionals who are fighting the COVID-19 pandemic in many countries across the world, and in remembrance of those who have fallen due to this virus and in prayer not just for the recoveries of those who are ill but also for the success of the vaccines against this virus and its effects on the human body, on this day of the Great Christian Feast of the Dormition and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ, we today mark from our homes a very important anniversary – the historic diamond jubillee of the historic declaration of unconditional surrender by no less than Emperor Hirohito of Japan formally stating his country’s unbearable acceptance of the terms of unconditional surrender to the Allied Powers by the whole of the country, government, people and the armed forces as proposed during the Postdam Conference in the spring of the victory in Europe and Northern Africa, just days following the twin American atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the declaration of war against Japan by the Soviet Union followed on the Soviet military offensive against the Japanese armed forces in northern Korea and Manchuria, bringing to a close all the combat operations in the Pacific and China-Burma-India Theaters of Operations, effectively signalling that after 6 long, painful and bloody years in which millions perished in the battlefields in land, air and sea, and in the concentration and labor camps, in which millions fought the Axis Powers with bravery and courage and millions more in the home front helped with their labor and work towards the goal of victory over the aggressor, the Second World War, which began 81 years ago in Europe, in the midst of the regional war fought in China and Korea, has today, 75 years ago in the Asia-Pacific, been set towards its conclusion. Indeed millions of lives were lost in honor that this day would come at long last, the day that all combat operations finally ceased and hope began to spring up after years of war and tragedy that befell upon the world. Upon hearing this announcement mixed emotions filled the hearts and minds of the Japanese people, Korea rejoiced at the end of 4 decades of Japanese administration that caused a lot of suffering among its people. For the historic address to the nation, pre-recorded by no less than the Emperor just days before, indeed marked the beginning of the formal end to such a tremeous period in human history.

Millions all over the world indeed rejoined on this very day that brought the war to the end of all combat operations in the Asia-Pacific, signifying the end of the long years of sadness and destruction and the beginning of a new era of peace in our planet, while honoring the millions who never lived to see this day come. Indeed today is a day of commemoration and celebration of the end of all combat operaions in this part of the world and the great victory won on this day by the millions of men and women of the armed forces and paramilitary forces of the Allied Powers, who, following the spring victory in Europe, forced the end of years of Japanese rule over parts of the Asia-Pacific, that brought suffering and death to millions of people.

We cannot forget the fact the great heroism and sacrifices of the millions who belonged to the so-called Greatest Generation, whether they be armed forces servicemen and women, policemen and women, border control agents, firefighters and first responders, and personnel of paramilitary formations and police auxillary organizations of the Allied Powers, shown in either the battlefield or in the communities in which they served, together with the patriotism and service shown by home front workers and those in the entertainment industry and in sports, helped pave the way for the victory that today will be celebrated as well as in this coming September 2, the 75th anniversary of the conclusion of this long and bitter global war. The heroism of those heroes of the past are the inspiration behind the huge efforts of our heroes of today who are currently fighting the COVID-19 pandemic in many parts of the world, and whose sacrifices in one of the greatest health crises of our times will be remembed generation upon generation.

The historic announcement marked the formal termination of all military operations fought in the China-Burma-India and Pacific Theaters of Operations by the Allies, formally setting the stage towards the end of this long war and the beginning of years of peace. We cannot think that this day indeed would have not been possible if not for the sacrifices of these millions of servicemen and women of the armed forces and paramilitary organizations of the Allied Powers and the lives of the servicemen and women who perished in the fields of battle. So high was the casualties the Second World War had left with millions of perished civilians, law enforcement, emergency response  and military personnel, as well as huge losses in infastructure, agriculture and fisheries, health, culture and the arts. Today, only just thousands are left of the millions who on this day 75 years ago served with dignity, determination and dedication to their country, knowing that this day would truly come in their lives that the war will soon be over and peace will soon blossom in a world that had been ruined by the fires of conflict. In remembering such an historic moment that led to the conclusion of the Second World War, let us continue to hope that thru our simple acts and actions we can work to honor the legacy left behind by these millions of men and women who won the victory against the Axis Powers and help in building up a better world and just society for our future generations.

With great happiness and respect in our hearts, we remember of such a great day these millions of heroes, who with their lives helped win the war against the Axis Powers and secured the future of this planet and of all the human race, as their sacrifices helped in the all-out effort to win the war against the forces of evil. Without a doubt, they are the principal cause of such a great victory that we honor on thus very day, and promise to forever remain dedicated in upholding the legacy of the victory won by force of arms with the help of the home front for generation after generation.

We will forever never forget and always remember the millions of heroes who helped in the great victory won against the Axis Powers, whose immortal legacy will remain in our hearts as long as we live. For the legacy of these the millions who served in the uniformed services during one of the more tragic periods of our history, we pledge to forever uphold their memory and work towards the victory of peace and democracy all over the world, hoping for the day that the joys of peace will resound in all the countries of the world.

Today, as one united people of the world, with joy and gladness, we mark once more the anniversary the end of a long conflict that forever changed our world, and the beginning of the days of peace in which we enjoy. As one people may we honor this historic day in which all combat operations concluded in the Pacific and China-Burma-India Theaters, it is with great appreciation that we once more honor the memory of the millions who fought and died in their commitment to the Allied cause and for the total victory over the Axis Powers in every corner of the world.

As we also prepare for the upcoming 75th anniversary of the conclusion of this war, may we also today and forever uphold the legacy in which our greatest generation brought into the world and for their efforts to defeat the forces of international fascism. May we forever remember the sacrifices made by these our millions of men and women in the armed forces and paramilitary organizations, national intelligence agencies, businesses, film, radio, television, music, visual and theatrical arts, sports and many other sectors of our society in the victory in which we celebrate today and for generations to come. And may we all who today celebrate the very anniversary of the announcement of the Japanese unconditional surrender always work hard to honor the legacy of this great victory and to fulfill their lasting wishes for us to work hard towards a brighter world of our tomorrow.

ETERNAL GLORY TO THE MLLIONS OF THE FALLEN AND THE HEROES AND VETERANS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR IN EUROPE, NORTHERN AFRICA AND THE PACIFIC FROM 1939-1945, WHOSE LEGACY WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN BY ALL THE GENERATIONS TO COME!

ETERNAL GLORY TO ALL THOSE WHO GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR THE FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE OF OUR WORLD AGAINST FASCISM, NAZISM AND IMPERIALISM IN THE FIELDS OF BATTLE, THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS, AND IN THE HOME FRONT!

LONG LIVE THE VICTORIOUS MEN AND WOMEN IN THE SERVICE OF THE ALLIES OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR IN EUROPE, NORTHERN AFRICA AND THE ASIA-PACIFIC!

LONG LIVE ALL THE ALLIED MILITARY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMERGENCY SERVICES VETERANS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR!

LONG LIVE THE INVINCIBLE AND FOREVER VICTORIOUS PEOPLE OF THE FREE WORLD AND ALL OUR SERVING ACTIVE AND RESERVE SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN AND VETERANS OF THE ARMED SERVICES OF ALL THE COMBATANT ALLIED COUNTRIES THAT HELPED WIN THIS GREAT WAR AGAINST FASCISM, NAZISM AND IMPERIALISM, AS WELL AS ALL OUR ACTIVE AND RESERVE SERVICE PERSONNEL, CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES AND VETERANS OF THE POLICE, FIREFIGHTING, FORESTRY, BORDER CONTROL, CUSTOMS AND RESCUE SERVICES AS WELL AS OUR YOUTH OF TODAY AND THE CHILDREN OF OUR TOMORROW WHO WILL CARRY ON THE LEGACY OF ALL THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE THEM, ESPECIALLY TO THE MILLIONS OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO TOOK PART IN THIS GREAT WORLD WAR!

LONG LIVE THE GLORIOUS 75TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS AND THE GREAT VICTORY OVER THE FORCES OF THE EMPIRE OF JAPAN AND THE AXIS POWERS!

GLORY TO THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, CANADA, THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND AND FRANCE, TOGETHER WITH THE ARMED SERVICES OF THE OTHER VICTORIOUS COMBATANT COUNTRIES OF THE ALLIED POWERS, GUARDIAN DEFENDERS OF OUR DEMOCRATIC WAY OF LIFE, OUR FREEDOM AND OUR LIBERTY AND GUARANTEE OF A FUTURE WORTHY OF OUR GENERATIONS TO COME!

TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND CANADA AND TO PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD, A VERY HAPPY 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TERMINATION OF HOSTILTIES OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC AND VICTORY OVER JAPAN DAY!

And may I repeat the immortal words of the Polish National Anthem:

Poland has not yet perished, so long as we still live!

CURRAHEE! AIR ASSAULT! ARMY STRONG! SEMPER FI!

Ooooooooooooooooooraaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!

1900h, August 15, 2020, the 244th year of the United States of America, the 245th year of the United States Army, Navy and Marine Corps, the 126th of the International Olympic Committee, the 124th of the Olympic Games, the 102nd since the conclusion of the First World War, the 81st of the beginning of the Second World War in Europe, the 79th since the beginning of the Second World War in the Eastern Front and in the Pacific Theater, the 75th since the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa and the victories in Europe and the Pacific, the 73rd of the modern United States Armed Forces and the 53rd of the modern Canadian Armed Forces.

Semper Fortis JOHN EMMANUEL RAMOS-HENDERSON Makati City, PH

DJBC Tumblr Fall 2020 - World War II - The End: 75 Years Later