VJ Day 80th Anniversary: Pledge of Peace
The 80th anniversary of VJ Day (Victory over Japan) takes place on Friday 15 August 2025, commemorating the end of the Second World War.
While VE Day (Victory in Europe) marked the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, many thousands of Armed Forces personnel were still engaged in fighting in the Far East. Victory over Japan would come at a heavy price, and Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) marks the day Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945, which ended the Second World War.
Fighting in the Asia-Pacific took place from Hawaii to North-East India. Britain and the Commonwealth’s principle fighting force, the Fourteenth Army, was one of the most diverse in history – more than 40 languages were spoken, and all the world’s major religions represented.
The descendants of many of the Commonwealth veterans of that army are today part of multicultural communities around the world, a lasting legacy to the success and comradeship of those who fought in the Asia-Pacific.
To mark this occasion, we invite you to:
Light a candle during the evening of 15 August and place a symbol of peace in your window, download an outline of a dove, you may wish to ask a child to colour it in, and in the space provided write down your Pledge of Peace.
Please take a photo of your candle and your symbol & pledge of peace and share on our social media accounts (tagging in our handle), or email admin@fvca.org.uk for us to share.
We are also asking the community to write a short poem or your thoughts on the theme of peace. Pop your poem in the Village Hall letterbox or email it to admin@fvca.org.uk by 12th August. Our plan is to share these poems on our website and in the village hall’s front window, so that they can be read on 15 August.