70 years ago today
On Aug 14, 1945, Emperor Hirohito announced to the Japanese people the country was surrendering to the Allies. The American public were told on Aug. 15, which would traditionally be known as V-J Day, although the formal surrender wasn't signed until Sept. 2 in Tokyo Harbor on the deck of the U.S.S. Missouri.
Washington state marked the occasion Friday at the World War II memorial on the Capitol campus, adding the name of one more casualty to the memorial. The Secretary of State's office will unveil a WWII tribute on Aug. 20 with first-hand accounts from Washington residents of their service during the war.