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When Japanese army leaders climbed aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2, 1945, the battleship was full of U.S. sailors desirous to see the end of World War II.
On Wednesday, the 75th anniversary of the give up, some of those self same males who served the United States weren’t in a position to return to the Missouri in Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor as a result of of the world’s new conflict in opposition to the coronavirus.
The commemoration initially was purported to be a blockbuster occasion with parades, film premieres, galas and 1000’s of individuals honoring the veterans of their 90s or past, some who could also be marking the milestone for the final time.
Because of the menace of the virus, the ceremony was scaled all the way down to about 50 individuals, with native veterans and authorities officers gathering on the USS Missouri in masks. The names have been learn of surviving WWII veterans, together with 14 who have been on the ship the day the Japanese surrendered.
Jerry Pedersen, 95, was one of them, watching historical past unfold as a younger Marine. He and his comrades who reside within the mainland U.S. needed to watch a livestream of the ceremony from dwelling as an alternative of on the decks of the battleship as deliberate.
“Well, I was very disappointed, yes. I was hoping to maybe see a friend or two,” he stated. “I just want to share with at least my family and a couple of other folks some of the feelings that I was going to express when I got there.”
Those emotions are difficult, stated Pedersen, who devoted his life to peace after the conflict ended.
“War must not happen again,” he stated, recalling the phrases uttered by Gen. Douglas MacArthur on the day the Japanese surrendered. But “we’re still oscillating on many of the things that are necessary to bring us peace.”
Pedersen wore a blue Marine uniform not too long ago despatched to him for the ceremony as he watched the occasion from a laptop computer at his son’s home in rural West Sacramento, California. His three grownup kids, their spouses and a few grandchildren gathered across the laptop, clapping and hooting when his title was referred to as. Pedersen smiled and gave a fist pump.
“For me, it was the end of the killing, the war that had taken millions of soldiers and many, many, many millions of civilians in wars in Europe and finally in the Pacific that came to an end that day. And we were celebrating,” he advised The Associated Press.
“I had the feeling that day. I made a pact with myself that I’m going to be a peacemaker in my life,” stated Pedersen, who went to school after the conflict, bought his doctorate and have become a minister.
He watched remotely as WWII-era “warbirds” flew over Pearl Harbor and video messages performed from veterans and others in a tribute to those that couldn’t attend or had handed away.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper stated he was honored to “commemorate and reflect on the sacrifices and victories of our service members and allies who helped fight for and secure peace.”
At the end of his keynote tackle, he constructed a case for a powerful army for the longer term.
“We honor the legacy of those who came before us and recommit ourselves to defending today’s international rules and norms so that the road is safer and is better for generations yet to come,” Esper stated. “The United States’ commitment to the role today is the same one we made to the freedom-loving people of the world in 1941 — that we will remain ready to fight any foe and defend any friend.”
The U.S. entered the conflict after Japanese warplanes attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Thousands of service members have been killed and wounded, about half of them dying on the USS Arizona, which nonetheless sits submerged in Pearl Harbor subsequent to the USS Missouri Memorial, a floating museum.
Four years later, after large losses on each side that included the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese indicated they might give up on Aug. 15, then met with Allied forces aboard the Missouri on Sept. 2 to signal the Instrument of Surrender.
Hawaii Gov. David Ige stated the nation can study from WWII veterans about focusing on the issues of our time.
“Some compare fighting a pandemic akin to fighting a global war,” Ige stated. “What I do know is that we cannot go wrong in following their example in the face of any adversity. Their courage under fire, strength of character, resilience over time provides a clear roadmap for us to follow in all that we do, whether we are fighting a social injustice or a virus.”
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