Bill Text: CA SCR98 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day (V-J Day).
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-06-30 - Introduced. Referred to Com. on RLS. [SCR98 Detail]
Download: California-2025-SCR98-Introduced.html
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Concurrent Resolution
No. 98
| Introduced by Senator Jones |
June 30, 2025 |
Relative to the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day (V-J Day).
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SCR 98, as introduced, Jones.
80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day (V-J Day).
This measure would designate September 2, 2025, as Victory over Japan Day (V-J Day) in the State of California in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Digest Key
Fiscal Committee: NOBill Text
WHEREAS, September 2, 2025, marks the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day (V-J Day), commemorating the date on which representatives of the Empire of Japan formally surrendered aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, ending World War II and bringing to a close the deadliest conflict in human history; and
WHEREAS, World War II was a global conflict fought across multiple fronts, including Europe, the Pacific, North Africa, and Asia, through land campaigns, naval operations, and aerial combat, demanding extraordinary resolve and sacrifice from American forces; and
WHEREAS, While the war in Europe ended with Germany’s unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945, commemorated as Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day), the war in the Pacific continued for months longer, culminating in Japan’s surrender and the final Allied victory; and
WHEREAS, The United States entered the Second World War following the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, a date that President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared would “live in infamy,” prompting full-scale national mobilization and uniting Americans in defense of sovereignty and freedom; and
WHEREAS, The attack on the Hawaiian Islands was part of a broader Japanese offensive extending throughout the Pacific area, including near-simultaneous attacks on the American territories of Guam, the Philippines, and Wake Island, as well as on Allied positions in Malaya and Hong Kong; and
WHEREAS, Addressing the Congress to request a declaration of war, President Roosevelt proclaimed that “the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory,” a promise that reflected the nation’s indomitable spirit and would carry the United States through the duration of the war; and
WHEREAS, In response to the attacks, the United States carried out the Doolittle Raid in April 1942, launching land-based B-25 Mitchell bombers from the USS Hornet to strike military and industrial targets on the Japanese Home Islands, demonstrating American ingenuity and lifting national morale in the early days of the Pacific War; and
WHEREAS, Under the leadership of General Douglas MacArthur and Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Allied forces in the southwest and central Pacific pursued a strategy of island hopping, advancing through the Pacific by securing critical airfields and bypassing heavily fortified enemy positions in the advance toward Japan; and
WHEREAS, The success of amphibious operations in the Pacific was shaped in part by the contributions of General Holland M. Smith, whose development of United States Marine Corps assault doctrine and command of joint landings helped define the tactics that enabled victory across the island campaigns; and
WHEREAS, The Pacific campaign included major operations across the Solomon Islands, the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, the Mariana and Palau Islands, the Philippines, New Guinea, and the Aleutian Islands, as part of the long and costly advance toward Japan that culminated in final victory; and
WHEREAS, United States forces achieved critical victories at the Battles of the Coral Sea, Midway, Guadalcanal, Tarawa, the Philippine Sea, Peleliu, Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa, each a testament to the courage, determination, and unyielding resolve of American service members in the face of overwhelming adversity; and
WHEREAS, Victory in the Pacific was achieved through the coordinated efforts of the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Army Air Forces, whose members fought side by side across thousands of miles of ocean and unforgiving terrain; and
WHEREAS, The Allied victory in the Pacific was also made possible by the sacrifices of Australian, New Zealand, British, Canadian, Chinese, Filipino, and Dutch forces, whose shared commitment helped secure peace in the region; and
WHEREAS, Hundreds of thousands of American and Allied service members and civilians were taken prisoner in the Pacific Theater and endured captivity under severe conditions, demonstrating extraordinary resilience and faithfulness to duty; and
WHEREAS, On August 14, 1945, Japan accepted the terms of the Potsdam Declaration and agreed to unconditional surrender, ordering its armed forces to cease hostilities; and
WHEREAS, That evening, President Harry S. Truman announced the news to a jubilant nation, sparking spontaneous celebrations across the country and marking the unofficial end of combat in the Pacific; and
WHEREAS, The war claimed the lives of more than 70,000,000 people worldwide, including over 400,000 Americans who gave their lives in service to their country; and
WHEREAS, Over 16,000,000 Americans served in the United States Armed Forces during World War II, including over 800,000 Californians, making one of the largest contributions of any state to the Allied war effort; and
WHEREAS, Californians from all walks of life answered the call to serve, both in uniform and on the home front, embodying the spirit of shared sacrifice and patriotism; and
WHEREAS, California played a vital role in the war as a hub for shipbuilding, aircraft production, and troop deployment, anchored by major installations such as Camp Pendleton, Fort Ord, March Field, NAS North Island, and the San Francisco Naval Shipyard, whose combined capacity made the state indispensable to Allied victory; and
WHEREAS, The end of World War II, marked by Victory over Japan Day, ushered in a new era of American global leadership, international cooperation, economic expansion, and postwar rebuilding; and
WHEREAS, The 80th anniversary of V-J Day offers a moment to reflect on the courage and unity of the Greatest Generation, to honor their legacy, and to educate future generations about the enduring value of peace, service, and democratic principles; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature designates September 2, 2025, as Victory over Japan Day (V-J Day) in the State of California in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature honors the memory and service of all who served and sacrificed during the Second World War and recognizes California’s vital contributions to the Allied victory; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature encourages Californians to participate in commemorative events, public ceremonies, and educational programs marking this historic occasion; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
