Fredericksburg, TX – On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, the National Museum of the Pacific War will host a commemorative program marking the 80th anniversary of V-J Day, the day Japan formally surrendered and World War II came to an end.
This special evening event will take place from 5:15 PM to 6:45 PM and will feature an engaging keynote program. Admission is free, though RSVP is required.
The evening begins with a cocktail hour, followed by a keynote address from acclaimed World War II historian Jon Parshall, who will reflect on the historical significance of Japan’s surrender and the enduring legacy of V-J Day. Following his remarks, guests will be invited to participate in a Q&A session.
V-J Day Commemoration
Location: National Museum of the Pacific War
Date: Monday, September 2, 2025
Time: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Admission: RSVP is required to attend. For more information and to reserve your spot, visit: https://www.pacificwarmuseum.org/event/v-j-day-commemoration
About the Speaker
Jonathan Parshall is an independent WWII scholar and co-author of Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway, considered the definitive account of that battle. He is also a co-author of Fighting in the Dark: Naval Combat at Night, 1904–1944 and the forthcoming 1942: Crux of War, to be published by Oxford University Press in 2026. Parshall lectures for the U.S. Naval War College and is a frequent speaker at leading military history institutions. He has been featured on the Discovery Channel, National Geographic, History Channel, Smithsonian, the BBC, and Netflix’s Road to Victory series.
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About the Admiral Nimitz Foundation
The Admiral Nimitz Foundation was established in 1971 as a 501(c)(3) Texas Corporation to
provide additional development funding for the Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Naval Museum,
a museum honoring Fredericksburg’s native son and Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces,
Pacific Ocean Area. The sole purpose of the Admiral Nimitz Foundation is to raise funds for the
National Museum of the Pacific War and to manage its operation.
About the National Museum of the Pacific War
The National Museum of the Pacific War (NMPW), founded in 1967, is the only institution in the
continental United States dedicated exclusively to telling the story of the Pacific and Asiatic
Theaters in World War II. The Museum annually welcomes more than 120,000 visitors, including
at least 15,000 students from across the state. The museum sits on six acres in downtown
Fredericksburg, Texas featuring three galleries with more than 55,000 square feet of exhibit
space, 40 media installations, approximately 900 artifacts, 15 macro-artifacts, and hundreds of
photographs. The Museum is a Texas Historical Commission Property, managed and supported
by The Admiral Nimitz Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. For more information,
visit http://www.pacificwarmuseum.org. Follow the museum on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About Smithsonian Affiliations
Smithsonian Affiliations is a national outreach program that develops long-term collaborative
partnerships with museums, educational, and cultural organizations to share Smithsonian
collections, build collaborative networks, and engage learners of all ages with Smithsonian
resources. More information is available at www.affiliations.si.edu.
