U.S.
DC ceremony marks the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe
Stars and Stripes
May 8, 2021
Staff Sgt. Andrew Boylan of Houston, Texas, a member of the U.S. Army Band, plays taps during a ceremony at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. on May 8, 2021, the anniversary of the end of the war in Europe. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
WASHINGTON — Veterans, service members, dignitaries — and, after a year of canceled ceremonies, members of the public — gathered at the National World War II Memorial Saturday morning to mark the anniversary of the end of fighting in Europe.
Among those in attendance were Battle of the Bulge veteran Harry Miller, and a Ukrainian delegation that included Defense Attaché Maj. Gen. Borys Krementskyi and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the U.S. Markarova Oksana.
Although Adolf Hitler had been dead for several days and a military surrender document had been signed on May 7, 1945, May 8 is considered Victory in Europe Day, when the official documents were signed in Berlin to mark the end of the war in Europe. Japan would not surrender until September 2.
World War II veteran Harry Miller is interviewed after a ceremony at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. on May 8, 2021, the anniversary of the end of the war in Europe. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Veterans and other wreath-layers pose during a ceremony at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. on May 8, 2021, the anniversary of the end of the war in Europe. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Some of the 4,048 gold stars on a wall at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., each representing 100 American service members who died during that conflict. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
World War II veteran Harry Miller and Chaplain (Col.) Michael Shellman, foreground, and Vietnam-era veteran Sidney B. Wade Jr. and National Park Service volunteer and reenactor Patrick McCourt salute as they lay a wreath during a ceremony at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. on May 8, 2021, the anniversary of the end of the war in Europe. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
A Ukrainian delegation including Defense Attache Maj. Gen. Borys Krementskyi, left, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the U.S. Markarova Oksana, center background, prepares to lay a wreath during a ceremony at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. on May 8, 2021, the anniversary of the end of the war in Europe. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Chaplain (Col.) Michael Shellman, the Military District of Washington's command chaplain, delivers the invocation during a ceremony at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. on May 8, 2021, the anniversary of the end of the war in Europe. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
National Park Service volunteer and reenactor Patrick McCourt, Vietnam-era veteran Sidney O. Wade Jr. and World War II veteran Harry Martin, left to right, salute as the national anthem is played during a ceremony at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. on May 8, 2021, the anniversary of the end of the war in Europe. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
The Military District of Washington Armed Forces Color Guard battles the wind as the national anthem is played during a ceremony at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. on May 8, 2021, the anniversary of the end of the war in Europe. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
World War II veteran Harry Miller elbow-bumps Ukrainian Defense Attache Maj. Gen. Borys Krementskyi before a ceremony at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. on May 8, 2021, the 76th anniversary of the end of the war in Europe. Last year's planned 75th anniversary ceremonies were canceled due to the pandemic. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Last year marked the 75th anniversary of the surrender, but the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of planned ceremonies.