End of World War II Commemoration Tues. September 2

Japan formally surrendered to the Allied Forces on September 2, 1945, aboard the USS Missouri.

On September 2, 2008, at 11:45 am, the Branson Veterans Task Force will remember this historic end of WWII. Join us on the Branson Princess (renamed the USS Missouri for this occasion) at Branson Landing.

A short commemoration will be followed by a press conference regarding Veterans Week activities. The theme and special guests for the week will be announced. Refreshments will be served.

The formal surrender ceremonies ending WWII took place more than two weeks after the Japanese accepted the Allies’ terms. The USS Missouri was anchored with other US and British ships in Tokyo Bay.

General Douglas MacArthur, acting for the United States and the Allied Forces, formally accepted the surrender of the Japanese. Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu and General Yoshijiro Umezu, Chief of the Army General Staff of the Japan Imperial Army signed the document on behalf of Japan. General MacArthur and Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, United States Navy, signed on behalf of the United States, followed by signatures of representative from the United Kingdom, China, the Soviet Union, Australia, Canada, France, The Netherlands and New Zealand.

The document defining the terms of surrender was only two pages long. The entire surrender ceremony took only twenty-five minutes, ending a six-year conflict that began in Europe in September of 1939. The Japanese entered the war on December 7, 1941, with the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Steve Weyher is the BVTF chairperson for this event. The Branson Veterans Task Force holds activities year-round to commemorate important events in our history and to honor our veterans. The BVTF office is located at 138 Pointe Royale Drive in Branson. To contact the office call 417.337.8387 (417.337.VETS) or visit www.bransonveterans.com.