U.S. Navy, Marines Honors 80th Anniversary of Battle of Okinawa, on Okinawa
U.S. Navy Sailors and family members joined local Okinawan volunteers at Peace Memorial Park on June 22 to prepare nearly 7,000 candles for a vigil on the eve of Okinawa Memorial Day. The event honored the 80th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa — an 82-day conflict in 1945 that claimed more than 200,000 lives and stands as the deadliest battle of the Pacific theater during WWII.
The annual candle lighting was organized by Bankoku-Shinryo-no-Kai, a local non-profit advocating peace to the world.
Candles lit by local volunteers and U.S. Navy Sailors stationed on Okinawa illuminate memorial walls following a volunteer candle lighting event at Peace Memorial Park in Itoman, Okinawa, Japan, June 22, 2025. Held on the eve of Okinawa Memorial Day, the event marked the 80th anniversary of the 1945 Battle of Okinawa, honoring more than 200,000 lives lost and strengthening ties between the U.S. Navy and the local community. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class MacAdam Kane Weissman)
Candles lit by local volunteers and U.S. Navy Sailors stationed on Okinawa spell out the Japanese symbols for “peace” during a volunteer candle lighting event at Peace Memorial Park in Itoman, Okinawa, Japan, June 22, 2025. Held on the eve of Okinawa Memorial Day, the event marked the 80th anniversary of the 1945 Battle of Okinawa, honoring more than 200,000 lives lost and strengthening ties between the U.S. Navy and the local community. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class MacAdam Kane Weissman)
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