“Spirit of 45” Commemoration held at Sarasota National Cemetery
Sarasota – At 7pm on the 14th of August 1945 President Truman announced the surrender of Japan and the effective end of hostilities of World War II. Today Sarasota National Cemetery held a Wreath Laying Ceremony to commemorate the “Spirit of 45”. Mr. John Wolfe from Bugles Across America provided the playing of Taps for the event. More information can be found at the Spirit of 45 Website
World War II was the largest conflict in American history. From December 7, 1941, until August 14, 1945, more than 16 million American men and women served in uniform, with more than 400,000 killed, 670,000 wounded, and 130,000 taken prisoner. From the beaches of Normandy to the jungles of Guadalcanal; from the skies over Germany and Japan to the convoys plowing through U-boat infested waters in the North Atlantic, American Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and Merchant Mariners fought, died, and ultimately prevailed on the land, air and sea.
Seventy-five years ago today, President Truman announced to the people of this nation that the Empire of Japan had surrendered. While the formal treaty was signed in September, for millions of American service members and their families, this was the moment that they knew they would return home alive. Our debt to them is everlasting, and today especially we honor the memory of those Veterans who served during World War II, and their families who also served here on the home front, and who now lay at rest in this national shrine that we call Sarasota National Cemetery.
For more information, visit the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) website or contact John Rosentrater, Cemetery Director, at 941-922-7200. To make burial arrangements or schedule a memorial service at Sarasota National Cemetery or any VA national cemetery, contact the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at (800) 535-1117.
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About the National Cemetery Administration
VA’s National Cemetery Administration operates 144 national cemeteries and 33 soldiers’ lots and monument sites in 41 states and Puerto Rico. More than 4 million Americans, including Veterans of every war and conflict, are buried in VA’s national cemeteries. For Veterans not buried in a VA national cemetery, VA provides headstones, markers or medallions to commemorate their service. Information on VA burial benefits is available from local VA national cemetery offices, online athttps://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 800-827-1000.