As previously noted, the precise day in which World War II ended is nebulous. August 15 is normally celebrated as V-J Day, although it was on September 2 that Japanese officials boarded the USS Missouri to sign the instrument of surrender. Although some committed Japanese soldiers disputed it, we can reasonably say that World War II ended precisely 80 ago.
The US Naval Institute shares the above photo of a special card distributed to people who were on board the Missouri at the time of the surrender. Captain Stuart Murray, the commanding officer of that ship, burned the unused cards and threw the printing plates in the sea to ensure that no one could claim an honor that was not theirs.