Victory Day

Today is Victory Day, a state holiday in Rhode Island. It commemorates the end of World War II, which (not counting the Civil War) was the most extensive war the United States was involved in. It is also arguably the war in which the nation was most united in its efforts to work as a nation to win the war, with sacrifices on all levels to support the war efforts by the men and women in uniform.

My father and his brother, Fran, both served in the Pacific Theatre during the war. Dad was an Aerographer-Meteorologist on the U.S.S. Kermit Roosevelt (ARG-16), which was a repair ship for LST’s (Landing Ship, Tank). (Prior to his overseas deployment, he taught classes related to weather maps and weather instruments at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD.) Fran served as a Radarman on the heavy cruiser, U.S.S. Vincennes.

Although Rhode Island is the only state to currently observe Victory day as a state holiday, a number of communities in New England (including the village of Moosup, in the town of Plainfield, CT) and throughout the United States hold observances to commemorate the sacrifices made by our armed forces and civilians on the home front during World War II.

Related media reports:

WPRI-TV: Here's why Rhode Island is the only state that celebrates Victory Day (13 AUG 23)