Pelosi Commemorates 60th Anniversary of VJ Day

Pelosi Commemorates 60th Anniversary of VJ Day

Monday, August 15, 2005

Contact: Brendan Daly, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. â€" House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today in celebration of the 60th anniversary of VJ Day, the day Japan surrendered during World War II:

â€Å"Today, we remember the 16 million Americans who served in the military during World War II. VJ Day marks the day America and our Allies took the streets in celebration of an end to a long, hard war. We remember 670,000 U.S. casualties including 400,000 deaths. The Greatest Generation faced some of our nation’s darkest hours and emerged victorious. We learn from their courage and selflessness. We give thanks for their resolve.

â€Å"We remember the sacrifices and struggles of the American soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and members of the Coast Guard in World War II. We remember those who fought in the Pacific campaigns against the Japanese Empire. We remember sea battles in the Coral Sea, at Midway, in Leyte Gulf â€" the greatest naval battle in history â€" and Lingayen Gulf, which turned the tide of the Pacific war and led to ultimate victory. We remember the Battle of Okinawa, the largest sea-air-land battle in history.

â€Å"We remember Iwo Jima, where more than 7,000 Americans and 20,000 Japanese died. We remember a battle that raged for more than a month, and we remember the powerful image of five Marines and one Navy corpsman raising the American flag on Mount Suribachi.

â€Å"We remember with our words, but must also remember with deeds; by fully funding and supporting health care for our veterans; by passing and implementing a new GI Bill of Rights, which meets the needs of our soldiers and veterans in the 21st Century; by realizing our troops lived with the creed that they would leave no one behind in battle and we must leave no veteran behind in addressing wounds to protect our great nation.

â€Å"I am proud to remember, celebrate, and commemorate VJ Day and the 60th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Let our prayers be filled with thankfulness. Let our words be replete with commemorations. And let our deeds be worthy of the sacrifice of the great Americans who answered the call in our darkest hours.”