The Defense Department will mark the 75th anniversary of V-E Day on Friday with a special program. 

Victory in Europe Day, or V-E Day, marks the day Allied nations accepted the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany during World War II. The surrender prompted mass celebrations in European and American cities.

President Harry Truman dedicated V-E Day to President Franklin Roosevelt, who had died just weeks earlier, and is quoted as saying, “Our victory is only half over,” in reference to continued fighting in the Pacific.

DoD’s 75th anniversary V-E Day commemoration will feature remarks from Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley as well as several special guests, including ABC’s Robin Roberts, NBC’s Tom Brokaw and comedian Jay Leno.

“As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Allied victory in Europe during World War II, we honor the sacrifices of all those who served during this defining moment in human history,” Esper said in a statement. “Although we face significant challenges with COVID-19, our commitment to remember the bravery and sacrifices of our WWII veterans will not change.”   

You can watch the program at 10:30 a.m. May 8 on the DoD website and its Facebook and Twitter accounts. It will also air on the Smithsonian Channel at 8 p.m. 

For more on V-E Day, click here. For information on how DoD is commemorating the 75th anniversary of World War II, click here.