Victory Day: Rhode Island
Celebrating the WWII defeat of Japan
by Liz Olson
In honor of the end of World War II, Rhode Island celebrates Victory Day annually on the second Monday in August. Victory Day, also known
as Victory over Japan Day, commemorates the day Japan submitted to the United States—August 15, 1945. The
formal surrender of Japan occurred on September 2, 1945, and ending World War
II.
In 1946, President Truman established Victory Day as a federal holiday, but did not distinguish
between victory over Japan and victory over Europe, which occurred three months
prior with Germany’s
surrender.
Rhode Island is the only state in the U.S. to commemorate
Victory over Japan Day with an official state holiday. State and local
government offices are closed for Victory Day, but federal offices in Rhode
Island remain open.
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