Amazingly, neither the Chicago Tribune, nor the Chicago Sun Times saw fit to print the following editorial in their newspapers. They felt they only wanted to handle local issues. Apparently, honoring a generation that allowed them to keep their right to a free press was not important enough. It would take precious little ink, and precious little space.
Might explain why both papers are in the throes of bankruptcy. Poor decision making by management.
A letter from the National World War Two Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Most of us will greet this Saturday, August 14, as a welcome respite from the workweek. With luck it will be sunny and fair and give us an opportunity to spend time with family, to shop, garden or just relax. But this Saturday should also be a day for remembrance. For August 14 is the 65th anniversary of V-J Day — the victory over Japan that, in 1945, concluded the Second World War, a conflict that claimed more human lives than any in history.
That few of us remember or even know the date’s importance is a testament to that sometimes American trait of historical amnesia. In general, we are a forward-looking people who don’t dwell on the past. But, as a board member of The National World War II Museum in New Orleans, I urge all Americans to take time this Saturday to recall V-J Day and remember the men and women who fought to preserve the precious freedoms we almost lost.
As war gradually engulfed Asia and Europe and North Africa beginning in the 1930s, nation after nation fell under the sway of Japanese and Nazi tyranny. The United States remained isolated from this gathering storm. Protected by vast oceans, we thought we could avoid the fight. We could not. The darkness that spread across the planet would reach us, too. The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, thrust us into the conflict across the globe’s oceans and continents – a fight to the finish for civilization itself.
America and its citizens performed heroically, sacrificing on the Home Front as well as in combat. Political and personal disagreements were set aside. Output from our factories soared as the country became the arsenal of democracy in this global conflict. Americans united and labored as one, working towards a single goal: Victory against the forces of totalitarianism and racist ideologies.
Victory would come, but it was hard won. On May 8, 1945, Germany capitulated. Then, following the atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan’s Emperor Hirohito broadcast his country’s surrender to the Allies on August 15 (Japanese time. Because of the international dateline, the news reached the United States on August 14). As word spread people crowded city squares and plazas across the 48 states to celebrate. They literally danced in the streets. The shared relief and joy of that day was captured in an immortal photograph taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt in New York’s Times Square — of a sailor sweeping a young nurse into an exuberant embrace and kiss.
“The happiness was indescribable,” recalled Edith Shain, who later identified herself as the 27-year-old nurse. The war, which took the lives of more than 400,000 Americans and the lives of more than 65 million worldwide, was over.
The V-J Day anniversary is a time to reflect on American service and sacrifice. At The National World War II Museum we honor the men and women who went beyond all boundaries on the battlefront and the home front to prevail in the war that changed the world. We will ensure their deeds are not forgotten and that the lessons and values of World War II are conveyed to younger generations so they will understand and appreciate the threat the Greatest Generation confronted and defeated.
There is urgency to our task. WWII veterans are dying at the rate of 800 a day, according to statistics from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. This year there are around 2 million surviving WWII veterans in America. In 2020 there will only be 1 million or less. Those who experienced V-J Day are leaving us.
Like Edith Shain. The vivacious nurse died just seven weeks ago at age 91. Her life had followed a uniquely American trajectory. After the war she moved to California where she worked, raised a family and prospered. Originally reticent about her iconic status, she grew to recognize the importance of V-J Day. Asked about the meaning of the photograph in 2008, Edith told the Associated Press: “It says so many things: Hope, love, peace and tomorrow.”
Thus, while we may be a forward-looking people, this Saturday I encourage all Americans to pause and reflect on the sacrifice of Edith’s generation. Remember V-J Day. Seek out a veteran and thank them. They really did change the world.
Sincerely,
World War Two Museum
A personal addendum:
August 14 is an auspicious day in American history. Ironically, it is also my daughter’s birthday! Mine happens to be May 8. She was born on V-J Day, and I was born on V-E day.
Full disclosure: I am a trustee at the National World War Two Museum. It is a museum dedicated to preserving the memory of World War Two, providing a place for our nations World War Two veterans to come and share their experiences so that we never have to fight a war of that magnitude again.
I always encourage friends to go to New Orleans and see the museum. It is not only a place of relics from history, but the museum makes that history alive for today. You will learn something about America when you go-but you will learn about the American people and yourself. Very cool place. It is designated as our nation’s official World War Two museum.
“The Great War” produced many heroes. I had the honor of escorting a gentleman by the name of Walter Ehlers onto the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in the fall of 2006, you cannot believe the reception he received. The CME Group staff were extremely excited and accommodating to him. When we went on the floor, people spontaneously hugged Walt, once they read the trading badge the CME staff had made for him. I took Walt onto the lip of the Eurodollar Option pit, and he received a spontaneous standing ovation for at least 2 minutes. People stopped trading-traders never do that. Every pit that Walt visited, people took time to shake his hand, give him a hug, tell him “Thanks”. Presidents, and people like Michael Jordan, didn’t receive spontaneous receptions like that. The reception was so warm and gracious, it truly touched Walt.
I made the decision to use this blog to get the word out about V-J day. Perhaps you can email it, tweet it, send it around. More importantly, tell your friends to take a quiet moment and think about the people that defended us a lifetime ago. If an old WW2 vet is around, give him a thank you for saving the world from totalitarianism. We won’t have long before they are all gone.
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