WAGGA residents gathered to pay their respects on the anniversary of Victory in the Pacific Day last week.
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Wagga RSL Sub-Branch vice president Richard Salcole said the ceremony marked 74 years since the end of WWII.
He said the day recognised the official defeat of the first direct enemy to Australia.
Mr Salcole said the end of the hostilities was met with "joyous rapture" in the cities of Australia and America, but not the same could be said for the people of New Guinea, Bougainville and the islands of the pacific and fleets at sea.
"Many of them had been in conflict for four years with limited down time; the end of hostilities took a while to set in," he said.
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"So much so that some Japanese soldiers were still unaware of the end of hostilities and were holding ground for thirty years after WWII".
Mr Salcole said next year's service will mark the significant milestone of 75 years.
