Impressive printed proclamation broadside, signed “Harry S. Truman,” one page, 14.5 x 19, dated May 8, 1945, issued the day after the German surrender in WWII, designating a day of prayer to be celebrated on May 13, 1945. In part: “The Allied Armies, through sacrifice and devotion and with God’s help, have wrung from Germany a final and unconditional surrender. The Western World has been freed of the evil forces which for five years and longer have imprisoned the bodies and broken the lives of millions upon millions of free-born men. They have violated their churches, destroyed their homes, corrupted their children, and murdered their loved ones. Our Armies of Liberation have restored freedom to these suffering people, whose spirit and will the oppressors could never enslave. Much remains to be done. The victory won in the West must now be won in the East. The whole world must be cleansed of the evil from which half the world has been freed. United the peace-loving nations have demonstrated in the West that their arms are stronger by far than the might of the dictators or the tyranny of military cliques that once called us soft and weak…Now, therefore, I, Harry S. Truman, President of the United States of America, do hereby appoint Sunday, May 13, 1945, to be a day of prayer. I call upon the people of the United States, whatever their faith, to unite in offering joyful thanks to God for the victory we have won and to pray that he will support us to the end of our present struggle and guide us into the ways of peace. I also call upon my countrymen to dedicate this day of prayer to the memory of those who have given their lives to make possible our victory.” An unobtrusive area of surface loss to blank upper right corner, edge toning, and signature a few shades light, otherwise fine condition. A beautiful proclamation from this hard-won day of celebration, commemorating victory in Europe and bringing an end to one of the darkest periods of modern history.
On Tuesday, May 8, 1945, recently appointed President Truman held a press conference in the Oval Office to announce Germany’s surrender in World War II. Before an audience of his cabinet, US and British military officials, and congressional leaders, he delivered this proclamation and declared May 13th, 1945, a day of prayer. Offering gratitude to the nearly two billion who served, and remembering the 60-plus million who lost their lives, Truman proudly declared, “United, the peace-loving nations have demonstrated in the West that their arms are stronger by far than the might of the dictators or the tyranny of military cliques that once called us soft and weak.” A beautiful proclamation from this hard-won day of celebration, commemorating victory in Europe and bringing one of the darkest periods of modern history to a close with the added importance of its being presented to his cousin Ralph E. Truman, who was a Commanding General, 35th Division, 1938-1942. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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