Let us pray. Holy god, we gather today at this special place to remember a tragic chapter in human history. We remember lives sacrificed for freedom. We remember those who served to bring about freedom. And we remember the surrender that brought about a culmination to that tragic chapter in history. May in our remembrance we take hope that justice will come and must at times be brought to bear through conflict. For those whom we stand on the shoulders who made this nation great, we give thanks. For those who still have hurts and pains of this chapter of war, and other wars, we ask for peace in their being. And we besiege you oh god to help all of us strive for a better world and diligently work for greatness in our own land. Our country has been truly blessed by you o god and has been a shining city on a hill for justice, care, compassion and right in the world. Help us keep our shining city bright. In your holy name i pray, amen. Please be seated. Its going to be very hot today and i would urge you all to drink plenty of water. You world war ii veterans, you can drink anything you want. Im so pleased to be here today and especially on this day where we commemorate vj day. It is a special day for our country. A day set aside by president truman. It is also a day when we can celebrate the unity and spirit when the American People came together with our allies, some of whom are with us today. And we can celebrate the unity and the spirit that has allowed us to turn our former enemies into our allies and friends. We are privileged to have with us today the United States navy band who will perform a musical patriotic salute for our veterans. [ applause ] many thanks to the National Park service, the caretaker of the memorial for their exeveryonery efforts to maintain the world war ii memorial and bring honor to the greatest generation. The friends of memorial are pleased to partner with the National Park service to observe the legacy of the memorial and to cohost these special commemorative events. Representing the park service is superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks ms. Karen cucurullo. [ applause ] good morning. Hello, gentlemen. On behalf of the National Parks service, my pleasure to welcome you to the world war ii memorial as we mark the 70th anniversary of the victory over japan which effectively brought to a close, the costliest conflict in American History. And i would like to remind us it has been 70 years of peace between our two countries. The world war ii memorial recognizes those who served in all theaters of the war, honors those who fell and recognizes the victory they achieved to restore freedom and end tear any around the globe ap as we begin todays ceremony, i would like to thank and recognize mr. Joshua bunting. Hes the chairman of the friends of the world war ii memorial and cosponsor of this mornings ceremony. National Parks Service thanks you in partnering and we share in your mission to ensure that the legacy and sacrifices of all world war ii veterans are not forgotten. And it is truly my pleasure and privilege to welcome former senator majority leader bob dole. [ applause ] a long time support are of veterans and to this memorial. Frequently you would see him at the memorial and its our pleasure having him here. Hes a threetime decorated for bravery and sacrifice in combat during world war ii. Senator dole served as chairman of the narnl campaign that raised private contributions that largely funded the construction of the world war ii memorial. To all of the members of our armed forces and veterans who are here, thank you. Thank you for your service. And we honor were honored by your presence. And this morning at this memorial, boy it is a hot day but surely you came because it means a lot to you and it means a lot to the National Park service that you are here. There is no tribute, no komen ration, no honor that could truly recognize the magnitude of your service and your sacrifice and really the sacrifice of your families. At the surrender ceremony aboard the uss missouri on september 2nd, 1945, 70 years ago today, general Douglas Macarthur said it is my earnest hope, indeed the hope of all man kind that from the solemn occasion, a better world shall emerge out of the blood and cartridge of the past. A world found upon faith and understanding. A world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of his cherished wish for freedom, tolerance and justice. And the world is still struggling to achieve universal peace to this day and understanding, here in lies the nations sacred memorials. These places are merely granite and marble reminders of the dee deeds, they reminded us of people with otherwise ordinary lives. They help us understand the monumental trials and sacrifices that have shaped our nation, our government and society. And they remind us of what we can achieve when we Work Together as a nation. The National Parks service is proud to be a steward of this legacy. And i promise you that we will be here every day of every year watching over this place to keep it, to protect it, to pass along the stories of heroism and sacrifice to future generations of americans. For its simply not just a memorial as we preserve, u a birthright as a nation purchased a at an unimaginable cost and one that we will care for with all of the rev rans and demands. I would like to point out or park rangers who come here every day to care for this and talk to the visitors. And our volunteers, youll see them with the yellow caps and the yellow shirts. Theyre here, too, because theyre dedicated to this memorial. I would also like to thank the maintenance crew, all of the people that come here and really, really want to do a terrific job for those that come here and experience this memorial. Thank you very much. [ applause ] thank you, karen. Here with us today to represent the ceremonys cohost is the chairman of the board for the friends of the National World war ii memorial, and my fellow Ranger School graduate, ladies and gentlemen, i give you mr. Josiah bunting iii. [ applause ] thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Most americans dont know the second, third, fourth and fifth versus of american the beautiful. Let me resite one of them for you. Perhaps the most famous of our allies during the Second World War was Winston Church hill. He constantly said succeeding generations must not be allowed to forget your service and your sacrifice. Many of us here today are children, your children and grandchildren and friends. I am concerned about American Students who are now in school and high school and college. Help me, all of us, let us commit ourselves to renewing their interest in and knowledge of your sacrifice. We are proud to salute you on this glorious day. Thank you. [ applause ] thank you. Today we mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Asian Pacific phase of the Second World War. The surrender ceremony towered political theater of the highest order in a complex weave of avert and subtle symbolism. The setting was to tokyo bay. This completed a circle of four years duration which mirrored a setting also in the great bay on the decks of a warship when the Vice President and Winston Church hill committed their highest principle to the charter. Japans final decision to sur vendor would occur four years later to the day from the declaration of the Atlantic Charter to the public. The battleship missouri represented one product of the the democracy. The missouri merged both striking lines that fused elegance and power. Internally she boasted advanced engineering and state of the art electronics. Both of these sparkling as american fortes. As we come to a closeup of the scene, a piece of subtle important symbolism comes into focus. The german surrendered in may 1945, transferred to a School Building literally in the middle of the night. Those of rank and prestige dominated the dimly lit hall with an invisible contingent of citizens in uniform present. The supreme allied commander dwight d. Eisenhower who was still reeling in revulgs over the scenes he had witnessed refused to attend. The scene on tokyo bay provided a staggering contrast. It was daylight, teaming with 258 warships. Unseemingly every available overlook aboard the missouri clustered citizen sailors in their whites, the proud representatives of all of those citizens in downform who carried the battle to the face of the enemy and paid the highest price. They were there by right. A table rest on the veranda deck. Its trio of barrels raised in salute, not menace. It was a simple mess table covered with a green blaze cover, an expression of the american pension for utility over ornate formality. As befitting the fact that the u. S. Had not fought alone, high ranking officers from her allies dock pied a prominent position facing the table, representatives from china, from britain, the soviet union, australia, canada, france, the neter land and new zealand. They stood out in their formal uniforms with neatly disciplined ties and high button collars. They wore guilty badges of rank and decorations. Scores of american officers of all services stood in lose ranks facing the table from the inboard side. They all sported open collar khaki uniforms bearing minimal insignia of rank. This minimal attire sign posted the future. On the missouri named for harry s. Trumans home state, a glass case rested near the table. It contained the flag flown by come man door matthew perry. From the missouris main mast flew the very flag that flew over the u. S. Capitol on december 7th, 1941. This was the dawn of a new era. Once the japanese delegation arrived at 8 56 a. M. , Douglas Macarthur strode out to a battery of microphones behind the simple table. Standen 0 the other side of macarthur were general ron wayne right and Lieutenant General arthur persable who had surrendered at singapore. Both endured over three years of japanese captivity. Their visibly wasted appearance kpemp fied some of the worse facets of the war. Macarthur would deliver one of the greatest iterations of the world war ii. All of them connected to the asia pacific, not to europe. The first was on december 8, 1941. Roosevelt has paralleled lincolns gettysburg address for brevity as well as memorable cadence and phrasing. The second speech was a sermon by rabbi at the dedication of a marine cemetery. He had looked down on the black volcanic ash housing the remains of his comrades and friends and he said, here lie officers and men, negros and whites, rich men and poor together. Here are protestants, catholics and jews together. Here no man prefers another because of his faith or despises him because of his color. Near there are no quotas for how many of each group are admitted or allowed. Among these men there is no discrimination, no prejudices. Theirs is the highest and purest democracy. Macarthur grasp in his slightly trembling hands a sheathe of papers that bore words crafted by those of roosevelt, words of his own mind alone. And from macarthurs form voice rolled the words, were gathered here, representatives of the major warring power to conclude a solemn agreement whereby piece may be restored. The issues involving the etiologies have been determined on the battlefields and are not for discussion or debate. Nor is it here for us to meet, representing a majority of the people of the earth in a spirit of distrust, malice or hatred. Rather it is for us, both victors and vanquished to rise to the higher dignity, committing all of our people unreserve edly to faithful compliance with the understanding they are here to resume. It is my earnest hope and the hope of all mankind that from many solemn occasion, a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past, a world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of his most cherished wishes for freedom, tolerance and justice. He summoned the representatives japan forward to sign the instrument of surrender. At 9 25 a. M. Mcarthur declared, let us pray that peace now be restored and god will preserve it always. Then facing the japanese delegation he intoned, these proceedings are now closed. A massive fly by had been choreographed to punk wait the end of the ceremony. But until that moment, the skies had forbidden execution. But at the end of the ceremony, the clouds parted. Under fresh sunlight, 450 carrier planes sounded a final deafening benediction. And a blessing was in order. By a conservative count it had killed 25 million human beings. About 3 million were chinese and 2 million were japanese. That means that 19 million noncombatants had died. Thats a ratio of three to one, which is higher than the awful arithmetic of horror in europe. One million were japanese who died for all causes. 17 or 18 other noncombatants had died, twothirds of them chinese. Facts like this are totally unknown today, speaks ill of our historic memory. But the so shay pacific phase of the world shaped the 20th century than its european counter part. As macarthur would report, it was from that basin of emancipated world that the nations of china, of india, of japan, of the philippines, of singapore would rise to the position they hold today. All of them to the position of the events of this world. So its totally appropriate that we should commemorate this day and this event and remember the sacrifices of those who came before us. And above all, that we should never, never forget the cost. Thank you. [ applause ] the United StatesNavy Memorial band will now perform another musical patriotic salute to our veterans. [ applause ] thank you. Thank you very much. It is now my great honor to introduce a world war ii veteran, a former senator from kansas, bob dole. Hes recognized as one of our nations powerful political figures with a distinguished service thats made a difference for america. Hes a decorated and wounded veteran of world war ii as a platoon leader. He was gravely wounded on the battlefield in italy and was decorated for his heroic achievement, receiving two purple heart medals, a bronze start medal. She also served and led to one of the most fun daughters and grand daughters would just stand if you can. Look at that. Yeah. [ applause ] well, im one of those older guys, i cant hear, i cant well, i can talk, but i cant hear, cant walk too well, but be in otherwise, im in great shape. Cant see either. So i havent heard a thing that anybody has said. So if i repeat something, why, let me know. I thought this would be a good place to announce my candidacy for president. [ cheers applause ] some people thought i would wait until i got a little older, but, anyway, i still want a recount. But that probably wont happen. Well im a proud world war ii veteran. There for 16. 5 million of us who served in world war ii and now were down to about 850,000. And we lose about 600 every day. So we are really the disappearing generation. And this memorial is a great tribute, and it should have been built 30, 40 years ago. But we finally decided if congress wasnt going to move, we would just raise the money privately. And congress did appropriate, i think, about 16 million, and we raised privately over 170 million from people like you all across the line. [ applause ] and this is now the most visited memorial in d. C. And they have a program called honor flight, which some of the world war ii veterans in the audience are familiar with. But the Program Brings veterans, lets say, from sacramento, and they come with a guard in, make certain they dont fall or whatever or jump in the water. And its no cost to the veteran. So if your dad or grand dad havent been here to see the memorial, starting in september its going to be a little cooler. If anybody is cold id be happy to loan you my coat for a while. But i dont think anybody is cold. But i come out every saturday and ive met thousands and thousands of world war ii, korean and Vietnam Veterans and some afghanistan and iraqi veterans. So its a wonderful opportunity to celebrate with all of these distinguished people vj day. I was in italy, so we ended the war may the 8th. Trouble is i was wounded on april 14th. Roosevelt died on april the 12th. And we were all young 19, 20yearolds and we were all sad and in tears because he was our commander in chief and we werent in to politics. So we delayed our push to get the germans out of italy. And i was Second Lieutenant and they were kind of expendable in those days. And i replaced a young man who had been killed. And then i tried to save my radio man. And when i went out to pull him into the ravine, some german gave me a shot that kept me hospitalized for about three years. But what i want to say is its the greatest country on the face of the earth. And we shouldnt forget it. [ applause ] and if you think about world war ii, can you imagine what would have happened had we lost, what language we would be speaking, whether woe would have any freedom or the liberty that we enjoy today . And i worry sometimes that young people dont hear much about history anymore. And many of them come to the world war ii memorial with their fathers or their grandfathers and its a great History Lesson to look at the atlantic and the pacific where we were victorious in both places. Germany is now a great ally and so is japan. Though ive never understood why the japanese murdered 100 surrendered. But now theyre our friends and we have many friends that were introduced earlier from taiwan and from australia and new zealand. Philippines. I dont remember the other seven or eight countries. We were all in this together. This was a world war. And it was against europe and of course nazi teyranny. And he had his eyes on the United States. And fortunately with other allies, we, well, americans were able to be victorious under the leadership of the great general dwight d. Eisenhower, another fellow can san. What im going to start doing in two weeks is to raise money privately for anizer hour memorial. 16 years ago congress authorized the memorial and its been h