Sixty-one years ago tomorrow, Japanese Emperor Hirohito surrendered to the Allied forces, bringing an end to the war in the Pacific and World War II.

The Japanese government sent President Harry S. Truman a cable, delivered through the Swiss diplomatic mission, to advise the Allies of Japan's unconditional surrender as Hirohito announced Japan's acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration in a radio broadcast to the Japanese nation.

The day came to be known as Victory in Japan Day or V-J Day, a day that ended the most destructive war in history. Three months earlier, Germany had surrendered to the Allies on what became known as Victory in Europe Day, or V-E Day. Rhode is the only state that observes the holiday.

The Allies had delivered the Potsdam Declaration, demanding an unconditional surrender, two weeks earlier. When Japan ignored the ultimatum, the U. S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima on Aug. 6 and on Nagasaki on Aug. 9.

Japan's formal surrender took place aboard the battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2, 1945. Army Gen. Douglas MacArthur, supreme commander, joined nine other Allied officers to accept the surrender from Japan's foreign minister and the commander of Japanese forces. The 18-minute ceremony ended a war that began for the United States three years, eight months and 22 days earlier with the Japanese attack on naval, air and land forces at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Those Americans who supported the war on the home front as well as the young men and women who served in uniform are now in their 80s and 90s. Their sacrifices ensured freedom around the world. Without these brave men and women, today's America would be vastly different. Their years of struggle, however, was accompanied by a bleak initial outlook for the Allies.

After the attack at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, the Japanese quickly gained control over a vast area of the Pacific, with Guam, Wake Island and Hong Kong falling within three weeks. In April 1942, the Allies faced another major defeat with the fall of Bataan in the Philippines.

The turning point of the war came in June 1942, when U.S. naval forces halted the Japanese advance during the Battle of Midway.

Following that decisive battle, the Allies launched a counteroffensive, beginning with Marine landings on Guadalcanal, a critical move to protect Australia. After six months of bloody fighting, the Allies finally took control of Guadalcanal. Meanwhile, Army troops and their Australian allies succeeded in taking New Guinea's Papua peninsula.

From that point, Navy Adm. Chester W. Nimitz and MacArthur engaged in island-hopping campaigns that struck at Japan's weak points and stopped Japanese advances. By 1944, they had reached the Marshall Islands and secured the Kwajalein and Eniwetok atolls. The Marianas Islands followed in mid-June 1944 and the Allies liberated the Philippines in mid-1945.

Despite continued defeats and the Allies' intensive bombing campaign, Japan continued to refuse to surrender until atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The bombs had been developed by the United States with assistance from the United Kingdom and Canada under the code name Manhattan Project and were tested in the New Mexico desert in July 1945. Less than a month later, Truman ordered the bombings to bring a quick resolution to a war that had already claimed so many U.S. lives.

After accepting Japan's surrender on the Missouri, MacArthur was named commander of the Allied powers in Japan and directed the Allied occupation of Japan, which lasted until 1952. During that period, the U.S.-led effort focused on demilitarizing Japan and introducing sweeping economic, social and political changes.

Today, Japan is a world economic leader, a staunch ally of the United States and one of the world's model democracies, with one of the largest economies in the world. Sixty-one years ago, World War II ended and one-time bitter enemies began traveling again the road to peace and friendship.

Newport, Pawtucket mark Victory Day Veterans groups in Pawtucket and Newport will mark Victory Day.

The Pawtucket Veterans Council will pay its yearly tribute to Victory Day and the end of World War II and all lost comrades today at 11 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park, Roosevelt Avenue and Exchange Street, in Pawtucket. James Brennan, a Bataan death march survivor, will be the guest.

The United Veterans Council of Newport County will conduct a Victory Day observance today on the Newport City Hall lawn, 43 Broadway, at noon. Also participating will be The Newport Artillery Company, veterans organizations of Newport County, clergy, city and legislative officials.

The speaker will be Maj. Ronald Tammaro, a 22-year veteran of the Rhode Island National Guard who is the training administrator and executive officer for the Guard's 243d Regiment Training Institute.

A container will be available for worn, faded and unserviceable U.S. flags that will be disposed of at a flag retirement ceremony at a later date.

Jewish War Veterans of the USA Harvey Green has been appointed by Governor Carcieri to the State Advisory Council to Veterans Affairs for a three-year term that began July 1.

Eighth Air Force Historical Society The Rhode Island chapter meets today at Bickford's Restaurant, Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, at 11 a.m.

Veterans of Foreign Wars and Auxiliary Gatchell Post 306 and auxiliary will meet tomorrow at 171 Fountain St., Pawtucket, at 7 p.m.

American Legion Berard-Desjarlais Post 88, 111 Chapel St., Harrisville, will meet Wednesday at 7 p.m. Raymond Fontenault, Burrillville's veterans' service officer, is available at Post 88 from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 6 and the first Wednesday of each month. Post 16 will meet Thursday at 2 p.m., at VFW Hall, 113 Beach St., Westerly.

Marine Corps League The South County Detachment will meet Wednesday at the VFW Hall, 155 High St., Wakefield, at 7:30 p.m.

U.S. Army Special Forces Association Rhode Island Chapter 48 will meet Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Corner Tavern in North Kingstown. Family Day will be held Aug. 26 at 29 Anthony Rd., Foster, at 10 a.m. For more information call Brad at (401) 886-1860.

Association of the United States Army The executive committee will meet on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Harwood Army Reserve Center, 385 Niagara St., Providence.

U.S. Submarine Veterans, Rhode Island SUBVETS-R.I. will meet on Thursday at American Legion Post 27, Thelma Drive, Hope Valley, at 7 p.m.

Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 273 will meet Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Powers Building across from the State House, One Capitol Hill, Providence. Jimmy Ray Memorial Chapter 818 will meet Friday at Lincoln's senior center at 44 Chapel St., at 7 p.m.

Navy Seabee Veterans Island X-1 Davisville will meet at the Seabee Memorial Park and Museum, 21 Iafrate Way, Davisville, on Saturday at 9 a.m. Doors open at 8 a.m. for coffee and doughnuts.

George W. Reilly can be reached at VeteransColumn@verizon.net or by writing to The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, RI 02902.