{"id":2437,"date":"2015-08-13T08:31:50","date_gmt":"2015-08-13T12:31:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gettysburgflag.com\/blog\/?p=2437"},"modified":"2024-06-28T16:06:21","modified_gmt":"2024-06-28T20:06:21","slug":"flags-signaled-end-of-world-war-ii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gettysburgflag.com\/blog\/flags-signaled-end-of-world-war-ii\/","title":{"rendered":"Flags signaled end of World War II"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"American<\/a>
American flags and confetti greet V-J Day news in the Little Italy section of New York City. (Library of Congress)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Seven decades ago this month, the horrific years of World War II ended with the surrender of Japan. In the U.S., American flags<\/a> were raised, saluted and paraded as joyous crowds spilled into streets throughout the nation.<\/p>\n

Even pigeons joined in the jubilee. In New York City on August 15, 1945, Mr. and Mrs. John Schulze carried two of their birds to the 12th floor of the Empire State Building. Around noon, they opened a window and released Big Red and Brownie, which took off with small American flags dangling from their claws.<\/p>\n

\"On<\/a>
On V-J Day, American flags dot a jubilant crowd in Times Square, New York City. (Library of Congress)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The birds also had tiny messages attached to them: \u201cWell done, boys!\u201d and \u201cGod bless our President\u201d were two exclamations of happiness and victory. Mr. Schulze, a veteran of the First World War, remarked that, when that conflict ended, \u201call we could do to celebrate\u2026was toss out hats in the air. This time, I\u2019m tossing pigeons!\u201d<\/p>\n

The avian celebration was sparked by Japan\u2019s informal surrender in mid-August and continued into September\u2019s first week, when formal documents were signed aboard the U.S.S. Missouri in Japan\u2019s waters. In cities and towns across America, people spilled into the streets, waving flags and shouting with joy. In New York City on August 14, a famous photo caught the moment when an amorous sailor kissed a giddy woman in Times Square. On the radio, President Truman announced the armistice.<\/p>\n

\"Japanese<\/a>
Japanese soldiers salute the American flag after surrendering Wake Island<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On Sept. 1 in Tokyo, First Lt. Arthur Jones, a Marine, became the first American to hoist the Star-Spangled Banner in Japan. When his unit arrived there, he headed for a fort, clambered up a steel tower and \u201cran up his flag,\u201d reported the Omaha Evening World. His action, the story added, \u201cfulfilled a Marine Corps goal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two days later, aboard the Missouri, Japanese officials signed the formal peace treaty. The Associated Press informed people back home that \u201cover the battlewagon flew the American flag that fluttered from Washington\u2019s Capitol on the day of infamy, Dec. 7, 1941,\u201d when Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japanese forces.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A sailor kisses a girl in Times Square to celebrate the end of WWII<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The next day, on Wake Island in the Pacific, more Japanese forces surrendered. The AP wrote that \u201cthe flag was run up at 1:50 p.m. with a Marine color guard of about seventy-five officers and men.\u201d Looking on were a Japanese admiral, his staff and some soldiers. As a sign of their capitulation, they \u201ccame to attention and saluted our flag as it was raised,\u201d the AP reported.<\/p>\n

On Sept. 5 in New Orleans, Major General Claire Chennault, famous for his \u201cFlying Tigers\u201d airmen, accepted as a gift an American flag that flapped above the U.S. Capitol when Japan\u2019s surrender was announced.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
An impromptu crowd dances on the White House lawn on V-J Day. (Library of Congress)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And so it went across the nation as Americans felt peace for the first time in four years and used their flags to show their joy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Seven decades ago this month, the horrific years of World War II ended with the surrender of Japan. In the U.S., American flags were raised, saluted and paraded as joyous crowds spilled into streets throughout the nation. Even pigeons joined in the jubilee. In New York City on August 15, 1945, Mr. and Mrs. John… continue<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":2442,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[28,303,126,112],"class_list":["post-2437","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history-lessons","tag-american-flags","tag-japan","tag-soldiers","tag-world-war-ii"],"yoast_head":"\nFlags signaled end of World War II<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Seven decades ago saw the end of World War II. 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