V-E Day 75th Anniversary: An Inspiration for America

V-E Day, standing for Victory in Europe, is a day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces on Tuesday, 8 May 1945.

Upon the defeat of Germany, celebrations erupted throughout the western world, especially in England and America.

In America, V-E Day coincided with President Harry Truman's 61st birthday. He dedicated the victory to the memory of his predecessor, Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR), who had died of a cerebral hemorrhage less than a month earlier, on April 12.

Flags remained at half-staff for the remainder of the 30-day mourning period for FDR. Truman said of dedicating the victory to FDR’s memory and keeping the flags at half-staff that his only wish was "that Franklin D. Roosevelt had lived to witness this day"

Great celebrations took place in many American cities, especially in New York's Times Square.

President Harry S. Truman announced the victory in Europe to the American people and appointed Sunday, May 13 — Mother’s Day — a day of prayer for thanksgiving.

Truman’s announcement included, “Our rejoicing is sobered and subdued by a supreme consciousness of the terrible price we have paid to rid the world of Hitler and his evil band. Let us not forget, my fellow Americans, the sorrow and the heartache which today abide in the homes of so many of our neighbors — neighbors whose most priceless possession has been rendered as a sacrifice to redeem our liberty … If I could give you a single watchword for the coming months, that word is work, work, and more work. We must work to finish the war. Our victory is only half over.”

Many communities attempted to minimize celebrations, wanting to give the occasion the solemnity they felt it deserved and reminding Americans that, as Truman said, “Our victory is only half over.”

Across the country, however, celebrations erupted including Times Square. New Orleans ignited with a Mardi Gras style festivities. Church bells rang solemn sounds of victory throughout the nation.

Most importantly, factories continued with the work implored by President Truman. Production for the military saving civilization from tyranny continued as the drumbeat of American industry.

Lesson of VE Day: Resolution Vanquishes the Crisis

As I write this article, it is May 8, 2020, the 75th anniversary of V-E Day
New York City has always had a special place in my heart. I was born and raised in the city, and throughout many professional endeavors during my career, Times Square, the crossroads of the world, is a place that I have experienced countless times.

But, on the day, the 75th anniversary of V-E Day, my reflection on Times Square has an intensely historic retrospection. This is inspired by iconic black and white photographs of people of every conceivable background, ethnicity, nation, creed, and dream who were beckoned there on May 8, 1945 to celebrate V-E Day.

When one takes a moment to look into the eyes of those who gathered there on that memorable day, one can experience the soul of America, and the hope of America reawakened. This reawakening was built on courage, optimism, and enthusiastic aspirations, after years of chaos, mayhem, and an unimagined dimension of death inflicted upon humanity.

The lesson of V-E Day is pertinent, timeless, and indefatigable, especially as another suffering has been unleashed upon our nation and the world by the coronavirus.

We must remember that we are mystically united, the good people of American now, and with those during the world during World War II. We must carry the torch of unwavering determination, single-mindedness, moral courage, and unshakable resolve. This virtues will raise us up again. We will rise by our unified and steadfast resolution to conquer this new crisis.

Let us understand our resolve. Resolution is understood by Webster's dictionary as a process or determination for a course of action, method or procedure to achieve a desired outcome.

It is common to think of a resolution as a change, normally a transformation to begin a new lifestyle, or a new year's resolution.

The word resolution itself is derived from the Latin word, resolvere, that is, "to come to a definite or earnest decision with a concrete plan of action."

America's Resolve: Inspired by Our History

Moral courage in a calm, demanding, and persevering manner must be the order of the day and America must respond with a new resolution to leadership.

Leadership must always be highlighted by character, to expedite transformation from a culture of crisis, to the ideals of service and dedication to community.

America need only reflect retrospectively on the leadership and events of its noble past to be reignited with the call of FDR, "this generation has a rendezvous with destiny".

The destiny FDR reminded us of is complemented by our founding fathers.

In the book, The Founding Fathers on Leadership, Classic Teamwork in Changing Times, author Donald T. Philips highlights that although the early patriots were outgunned by a ruthless dictator with unlimited resources, they had the ingenuity, passion, resolution, and determination to achieve victory.

The founding fathers exemplified that truly great leaders exhibit traits inherent to their very fiber.

These traits include a high ethical standard of doing the right thing, an almost uncontrollable desire to achieve, a propensity for lifelong learning, and a dedication to self-improvement.

As manifested in the results of the Revolutionary War, this ethical foundation translated into courage in adversity, a willingness to take risks, a sense of destiny and a personal conviction that they were meant for greatness. 1

Abraham Lincoln: A Heart of Character

Abraham Lincoln is admired as a leader with masterful communication and persuasion skills. Lincoln developed these skills by keenly understanding the philosopher Aristotle's Treatise on Rhetoric which explains a leader's ability to persuade as:
"Persuasion is only achieved by means of a moral character that renders the speaker worthy of confidence. Credibility is the most powerful means of persuasion". 2

If only the character of Abraham Lincoln were truly taken to heart by those in authority, life would ultimately be transformed within American society. Messages are more often heard and followed when the communicator is understood to be honest, sincere and truly concerned about others. 3

World War II Icons: FDR and Eisenhower

FDR responded to the ominous days of World War II by demanding that America have "a toughness of moral and physical fiber which is precisely the characteristics of a free people, a people dedicated to the institutions they themselves have built".
FDR's leadership made the presidency and the flag rallying points for all Americans.

President Roosevelt had faith in the power of democracy, and an unwavering confidence in the American people. This faith in the dignity of the American people ignited one of the most profound transformation of community in American history. It is a transformation built on moral courage, confidence, and collaboration that intimately united the military in harm’s way on distant shores with the industriousness of the citizenry back home on the American homeland. 4

Complementing the leadership of FDR was General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Eisenhower exercised leadership by never yelling, shouting, or losing his temper.

His effectiveness as a General was that he was a dedicated father and grandfather figure to those entrusted to his care. Eisenhower’s temperament helped to build an atmosphere of friendly cooperation and teamwork without any misunderstanding that he was in charge. 5

General Eisenhower developed a community mentality among the special breed of American men and women who truly did great things for America.
America and the world must forever remember these lessons of the past. These servants of freedom must be eternally remembered for saving democracy and modern civilization itself.

General Eisenhower made American proud of its call to be liberators and that their mission would be profoundly important on the world as he stated, "The destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for us in a free world is our mission". 6

Final Reflections

The essence of leadership that can transform a corporation, community and the nation is, and can only be evident by character as proven by the great leaders and events in American history.

It is America's destiny, to once again rise up by a renewed resolution to a new era of transformation ignited by personal and national character, credibility and conviction to our call as a new "generation that has a rendezvous with destiny".

About the Author

Vincent J. Bove is a national speaker and author on issues critical to America. Bove is recipient of the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award, and former confident of the New York Yankees. He served as spokesperson for a coalition of victim’s families of the Virginia Tech tragedy. His most recent books are Reawakening America and Listen To Their Cries. For more information: vincentbove.com or twitter @vincentjbove

References

1. The Founding Fathers on Leadership, Donald T. Phillips, p.9.
2. The Eloquent President, A Portrait of Lincoln through his Words, Ronald C. White, Jr. p. 255.
3. Lincoln on Leadership, Donald T. Philips, p.153.
4. No Ordinary Time, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II, Doris Kearns Goodwin, p.45-46.
5. The Victors, Eisenhower and His Boys: The Men of World War II, Stephen E. Ambrose, p.19.
6. Ibid. The Victors, p. 350.

Photos

1. Times Square NYC, May 8, 1945. (Unknown Author/Public Domain)
2. Four MPs take a break along a German road to read the "Stars and Stripes" newspaper about the Nazi surrender. (Courtesy U.S. Army)
3. Military personnel surrounded by civilians, Times Square, V-E Day, 1945. (Unattributed/Public Domain)
4. French civilians in Reims, France, the site of the German surrender on May 7, 1945, applaud American personnel on parade during V-E Day celebration. (Courtesy U.S. Army)

Note Well: This article was also published in The Chief of Police, Summer 2020 Edition, and distributed to police chiefs and law enforcement executives nationwide. Vincent has authored 14 cover stories and a total of 45 articles for the magazine in a special series titled Reawakening the Nation. Many of these articles are also published in his newest book Reawakening American, released in 2018, and selected by ASIS International as a finalist for the book of the year.