Reddy for the War to End - August 18, 1945

When it was announced in the Lorain Journal on August 14, 1945 that Japan had accepted the Allied unconditional surrender terms, the newspapers advertisers took notice – and immediately placed ads acknowledging the impending end of the war.

One of the first to appear in the Lorain Journal in the next few days was the above ad for the Ohio Public Service (as Ohio Edison was known then).

It's got a great message, promoting free enterprise as the means to achieve a good living the American Way. And Reddy – dressed like a lineman – salutes and signs off personally on the ad with his signature.

Whether this and other ads were already created and 'in the can,' ready for use when the war ended, I'm not sure. But it's very likely.

I remember asking Mom decades ago if she remembered there being any concern or worry in Lorain that we might lose the war. Her response was that when we first declared war on Japan, and then Germany, there was certainly concern and apprehension.

Perhaps Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King, Lorain's Number 1 son, helped soothe frayed nerves in his hometown when he appeared in Lorain to dedicate a monument in Lakeview Park in August 1942.

As the front page article below in the August 31, 1942 Lorain Journal notes, "Where do we go from here?" asked Admiral Ernest J. King of his home-town neighbors yesterday. And then he answered his own question with a ringing declaration that thrilled his listeners.

"We're going on to victory, of course. We will win this war."