



Yet another May 8 passed with little or no mention of its importance, even from the media. On that day in 1945 our country celebrated the surrendering of Germany, Victory in Europe Day. V-E Day was the end result of unimaginable sacrifices: 16,112,566 military personnel of which 291,557 died in battle and 671,846 were wounded.

The significance of that surrender is unquestionable. It stopped fascism ... dictatorships, governmental oppression, control of the media, control of health care, religious beliefs and certainly the right to bear arms or, to put it into proper perspective, the loss of constitutional protection.

So for 63 years we Americans never had any reason to fear any of the aforementioned ever happening, but in 2008 the improbable became increasingly probable.

It should be noted that war officially ended on Aug. 15, 1945, when imperialistic Japan surrendered, Victory over Japan or V-J Day. That’s if anyone really cares.

LOU KAUFFMAN

Bethlehem

