Navy veterans mark 80th wedding anniversary on V-J Day

A navy veteran couple celebrated their romantic and patriotic eightieth marriage ceremony anniversary on the identical day of the World Conflict II led to 1945, which marked a milestone, each personally and traditionally.

Ray Williams, 101, and his spouse Ellie Williams, 99, spoke with Fox Information Senior Correspondent Jonathan Serrie to share their “Lifelong Love Story” about “America Stories”.

For many People, August 15, 1945 – victory on Japan Day, or VJ Day – commemorates the second when Japan has introduced his intention to give up and to place an finish to the Second World Conflict. However for Ray and Ellie Williams it nonetheless represents one thing in profound: the start of their marriage and eight a long time of partnership.

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American navy veterans Ray and Ellie Williams have fun their eightieth marriage ceremony anniversary on VJ Day 2025. (Fox Information)

Ray and Ellie Williams served along with the Navy when their romance arose in the course of the Second World Conflict.

“I believed he regarded good in his hat,” Ellie Williams remembered.

Ray Williams was recruited and Ellie Williams was a volunteer amongst girls who had been accepted for voluntary emergency help (WAVES), A department of the navy reserve created in the course of the warfare to combine girls into the warfare effort.

Their relationship was shortly after simply 4 months, but it surely was sufficient.

“I simply beloved the way in which we loved being collectively,” Ellie Williams advised Fox Information.

After their whirlwind romanticism, Ray Williams advised, and the couple set a marriage date for August 15, 1945. By probability, their chosen date coincided with probably the most vital days in world historical past.

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The day they made their marriage ceremony, Japan introduced his give up, which concluded years of worldwide battle and the Second World Conflict was put to an finish. The give up of Japan led to celebrations in the US and amongst allied international locations previous to the official signing of the switch doc on 2 September 1945.

For the newlyweds, the day wore a double which means.

“VJ Day was an enormous occasion, and naturally we had the non-public pleasure to be newlyweds,” thought Ray Williams. “It was a double pleasure for us.”

These days, the couple lives collectively in Wellstar Atherton Place, a senior residing neighborhood in Marietta, Ga., Who held a ceremony to commemorate the eightieth birthday of the “Double Pleasure” of the couple, remembering the eightieth birthday of the tip of the Second World Conflict and the start of Ray and Ellie Williams.

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The “pure coincidence” has linked their marriage to historical past. Yearly, as a result of the world commemorates the tip of the Second World Conflict, the duo had one more reason to have fun – the success of their very own union.

The couple advised Serrie their recommendation for a everlasting, loving marriage: do not preserve a resort and be ready to make a compromise. In addition they stated that they’ve trusted their Christian religion closely.

Whereas many individuals keep in mind VJ Day for his victory for World Peace, Ray and Ellie Williams have fun much more.