Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of V-J Day and the End of World War II In the Pacific

COMMEMORATING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF V-J DAY AND THE END OF WORLD WAR II IN THE PACIFIC -- (House of Representatives - September 06, 2005)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 360, a resolution commemorating the 60th Anniversary of V-J Day and the end of World War II in the Pacific.

On Friday, September 2, 2005, a ceremony was held on the USS Missouri in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, commemorating the September 2, 1945 signing of the final surrender of Japan on her deck. Although I was in Iraq on that day, I made the following statement:

On this very ship, six decades ago, the greatest conflagration our world has ever known and, pray God, will ever know, came to a merciful end. As we stand here today, we feel acutely, and with the living, breathing spirit of history around us, that range of emotions coming to us through these lengthening years: the depth of treachery by some to the human spirit; the magnitude of suffering; the breadth of bravery and sacrifice; the exhilaration of triumph and victory; the sorrow of loss; and the faith and abiding promise of democracy and freedom.

I so regret that I cannot be with you personally for this moment, but I am with our troops in still another war on the other side of our world. But please know that I am here in spirit as we pause to remember all of this and to recommit ourselves that we shall forever heed the lessons of World War II.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

http://thomas.loc.gov