for American Legion Post #142; Hominy, Oklahoma.
>>> by Gary Lanham

It was a quiet week with so much that happened the past few weeks. With
a calm after the bustle of events given the BBQs and Installation of
Officers I was able to reflect on the historical events of great
significance sixty eight years ago.

Victory over Japan Day (also known as Victory in the Pacific Day, V-J
Day, or V-P Day) is a name chosen for the day on which Japan
surrendered, effectively ending World War II. The term has been applied
to both of the days on which the initial announcement of Japan’s
surrender was made – to the afternoon of August 15, 1945, in Japan, and
because of time zone differences, to August 14, 1945 (when it was
announced in the United States and the rest of the Americas and Eastern
Pacific Islands) – as well as to September 2, 1945, when the signing of
the surrender document occurred, officially ending World War II.

August 15 is the official V-J Day for the UK while the official US
commemoration is September 2. The name, V-J Day, had been selected by
the Allies after they named V-E Day for the victory in Europe. It was a
World War bringing Phillpinos, Australians, British, Canadian,
Americans, and so many others together for a heroic effort.

On September 2, 1945, a formal surrender ceremony was performed in
Tokyo Bay, Japan, aboard the battleship USS Missouri. In Japan, August
15 usually is known as the “memorial day for the end of the war”; the
official name for the day, however, is “the day for mourning of war
dead and praying for peace. This official name was adopted in 1982 by
an ordinance issued by the Japanese government. (Thanks to Wikipedia)

As a reminder our Commander has established our plan for future
meetings. We meet regularly the first and third Thursday evening at
1900 hours (that’s 7:00 PM). It is the Commander’s idea is to have the
first meeting to be formal business and the third Thursday conduct a
cookout and some form of information/entertainment. So we encourage all
veterans to come out and attend.

Our regular meetings are the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month at
1900 hours (7:00 PM). Our Monday morning Koffee Klatch meetings are run
by Post Adjutant Eli Prater and Jerry Sebert. Over biscuits and gravy
(or waffles) we will keep up on each other’s mischievous doings. It
runs generally from 7 am to 9 am. I know I am going to be there! If you
are a veteran come join us. And if you have a good story it may end up
in print. Next Monday Sept 2nd is Labor Day there will be no Monday morning Legion breakfast due to the holiday.