USS Missouri, Tokyo Bay, Japan
Representatives of the United States, Republic of China, United Kingdom, Union of Soviet Socialist Republic, Commonwealth of Australia, Dominion of Canada, Provisional Government of the French Republic, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Dominion of New Zealand and the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, General Douglas Mac Arthur, gathered on the deck of the USS Missouri to accept the Document of Surrender on September 2, 1945, at 09:08 a.m. signed By Command and in behalf of the Emperor of Japan and the Japanese Government and By Command and in behalf of the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters.
A large commemorative brass seal was placed in the deck of the ship on the spot where the Instrument of Surrender was signed.
Fifty years later, in the harbor of Bremerton, WA, I stood on the deck of the USS Missouri, looking down at the seal, reading the words “THUS BRINGING TO A CLOSE THE SECOND WORLD WAR”.
It was then that I fully realized that this moment in time, fifty years ago, was the beginning of a new life for me. Life as it was meant to be, free of hunger, free of fear, free of pain and scary punishments, full of joy and love and family. It brought tears to my eyes and gratitude in my heart for the heroic men who fought for us, and for my courageous mother who kept believing in God’s goodness and in the day the war would end, until finally that day arrived and we were free!
I will hang out the flag every year on September 2nd, as I celebrate Life.
I welcome your comments!
Until next time,
Ronny
Thanks.