Residents are invited to gather in Clacton this August to mark VJ Day and remember those who served and sacrificed in the final chapter of the Second World War.
A commemorative service will take place at Clacton War Memorial on Saturday, 15 August, starting at 11am.
The service will be led by Reverend David Lower, with a reading by Tendring District Council (TDC) Chairman Councillor Ann Oxley and the Last Post will be played by bugler Floyd Davis.
VJ Day, or Victory over Japan Day, marked the end of the Second World War and is a chance to honour those who served in the Far East, including many whose bravery and hardship were not always fully recognised at the time.
Councillor Oxley said the service was an important civic moment for the district to come together in remembrance.
“VJ Day is an important moment for communities across Tendring to pause, reflect and remember the service and sacrifice of those who helped bring the Second World War to an end,” she said.
“Public acts of remembrance are a powerful way of showing that, even many years on, their contribution has not been forgotten and continues to be valued by the communities they helped protect.
“I hope residents of all ages will join us at Clacton War Memorial for this simple but meaningful act of reflection, respect and gratitude.”
Councillor Dan Casey, TDC’s Armed Forces Champion and president of Clacton Royal British Legion, said VJ Day held particular significance for veterans and their families.
“For those who served in the Far East, the war did not end with VE Day,” he said.
“Many endured brutal conditions, long separation from home and experiences that stayed with them for the rest of their lives.
“VJ Day is a chance to recognise that service properly, to stand alongside our veterans and service families, and to make sure the sacrifices made in the Far East are never overlooked.
“The Royal British Legion is proud to help keep that memory alive, and I would encourage residents to come along, pay their respects and show their support.”
Clacton’s war memorial is situated in the Memorial Gardens on Marine Parade West, in the seafront gardens.
