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NBC 10: Campaign seeks to change name of Victory Day holiday (with video) -- interview with Lois Harada and #RenameVictoryDay.

From the article:

(WJAR) — A paid holiday at the beginning of August can only mean Victory Day, the day marking America’s win over Japan in World War II, and it's only celebrated like that in Rhode Island.

But many want the holiday to have a different name.

The #RenameVictory campaign has spread through social media and Providence storefronts where signs for the cause are displayed. It’s a project sparked by local artist Lois Harada, and now, her message is being taken to the sky.

"It is amazing,” Harada told NBC 10 News. “As somebody who's been a printmaker for a really long time, this is the biggest thing that I've ever done."

On Monday, she watched a plane trail a banner reading #RenameVictoryDay over East Matunuck Beach.

"This holiday was originally started to honor the veterans who served in World War II, and in changing the name, I don't want to diminish their service in any way,” Harada said.

The print artist started the campaign to rename the holiday marked by Rhode Islanders around this time last year.

"I just think that it's time to update the name so it feels a little more inclusive," she said.

Her message was seen Monday by those who enjoyed a day off, meant to remember the Japanese surrendering to the states in World War II.

"Hearing that a lot of Rhode Islanders call the day Victory over Japan Day or V-J Day, even though it's always been Victory Day on the books, for me it was always just really hard to explain especially as someone of Japanese American descent,” Harada said. "My paternal grandmother was in an internment camp, and to think about it through that lens, it always feels like an isolating holiday."

Suggestions for new names, like Ocean State Day, have been shared.

While V-J Day is not the official holiday name, it’s still one many use.

"Rhode Island is a state that does not let traditions go easily," the president of the World War II Foundation, Tim Gray, said. "It's an important day because it wrapped up a conflict in history that killed between 50 million and 70 million people."

With much help from the small state of Rhode Island, home to training and naval bases, Gray said he doesn't see anything wrong with just "Victory Day" as opposed to Victory over Japan or V-J Day. He said he hopes the conversation is a reminder of the day's meaning, and that any name change waits.

"We can revisit it again when that final World War II veteran passes away in Rhode Island and come up with something a little more palatable for everyone,” Gray said.

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Thank you and please keep sharing this petition and Amanda Woodward’s parallel petition! Rhode Islanders, contact your RI Representatives (list) or RI Senators (list) -- we’ll need your help in the upcoming legislative process!