August 17, 1945 A Good Dream, New Haven Goes Wild and The Eggs Are On the Way

August 17, 1945
Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Your letter came today and I thought I'd write today.  This has been such a different week that I can't keep track of the days.  Haven't a lot of things happened since we were home?  It still seems like a good dream that the war is over and I'll be plenty glad when the papers are all signed.

Image courtesy of www.skylighters.org

The news came at 7:00 here and the town went absolutely wild.  I didn't feel like shouting.  It seemed like we should all be very humble and thankful instead of going crazy.  We walked down to the green and I've never seen so many people in one place in my life.  They were just standing, laughing and talking.  Cars decorated with flags and crepe paper went honking along the streets and the Yale undergraduates paraded through the streets, building big bonfires which the firemen had to put out.

The students had rolls of toilet tissue and they tossed these from one to another so there were streamers hanging from wires and trees all over town.  I guess they couldn't find any real confetti.  I don't know where all the paper came from but the next morning there was a truck load of paper on our street.  Street cleaners were really having to work.  The celebration actually started about 5:30 Tuesday morning when the Japs. broadcast was first discovered.  The town really woke up and there was celebration all day but things really popped when the news became official.  The town has taken a two day vacation and with the sudden lifting of gas rationing every one has taken to the road.  Traffic has certainly increased.  We've been riding a little bit and are planning to go on a picnic Sunday.

Just about all we've done this week is listen to the radio.  We did clean up the car and Simonize it and it looks like a new car.  We've decided we don't need a paint job after all.  We also got some new seat covers.

The eggs haven't come yet but will probably get here tomorrow.  I'll save the money for the yarn if you want me to.  I can't decide what colors to get for you, though.  Do you like the samples?  Would you like these colors with a yellow center (all alike) or would you rather have it all colors?  I'll not order till I hear from you. Our boxes haven't come yet, but should be here any time.

We have been watching the paper for apartments but haven't been to look at any yet.  Our lease isn't up till Oct. 1 so we still have time to look.

We have made the negatives of the pictures we took at home but are waiting for our enlarger to get here before we can make any pictures.  B forgot to throw out some of his chemicals and left them in the basement so if they are in the way just toss out bottles and all for it's no good.

The weather has been just perfect--almost like fall.  This is all the news so write soon.  I hope you are all fine.

                                     Lots of love,

                                              B & Bonnie

Are you sure you won't need the sugar stamps?  If you change your mind be sure and tell me."

EMPEROR HIROHITO'S SURRENDER RESCRIPT TO JAPANESE TROOPS   August 17, 1945
New York Times.
TO THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE IMPERIAL FORCES:
Three years and eight months have elapsed since we declared war on the United States and Britain. During this time our beloved men of the army and navy, sacrificing their lives, have fought valiantly on disease-stricken and barren lands and on tempestuous waters in the blazing sun, and of this we are deeply grateful.
Now that the Soviet Union has entered the war against us, to continue the war under the present internal and external conditions would be only to increase needlessly the ravages of war finally to the point of endangering the very foundation of the Empire's existence
With that in mind and although the fighting spirit of the Imperial Army and Navy is as high as ever, with a view to maintaining and protecting our noble national policy we are about to make peace with the United States, Britain, the Soviet Union and Chungking.
To a large number of loyal and brave officers and men of the Imperial forces who have died in battle and from sicknesses goes our deepest grief. At the same time we believe the loyalty and achievements of you officers and men of the Imperial forces will for all time be the quintessence of our nation.
We trust that you officers and men of the Imperial forces will comply with our intention and will maintain a solid unity and strict discipline in your movements and that you will bear the hardest of all difficulties, bear the unbearable and leave an everlasting foundation of the nation. (www.ibiblio.org)