This day in history: Atlanta, Georgia celebrate V-J Day

Editor’s note: This article is part of We the People, a series marking the upcoming 250th birthday of the United States of America by Gray Media, Atlanta News First’s parent company.

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - On Aug.15, 1945, the empire of Japan announced its surrender, effectively ending World War II.

Due to different time zones, V-J Day was announced in the U.S. on Aug. 14, 1945.

Japan’s surrender came after the U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Also: In 1996, just weeks after hosting the Centennial Olympic Games, Atlanta was finalizing preparations for the 1996 Summer Paralympics, which would begin on August 16.

The city’s hosting of both events marked a major milestone in accessibility and global sports inclusion, and helped solidify Atlanta’s legacy as a major international sporting hub.

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