News Photo by Darby Hinkley Hillman Area Chamber of Commerce President Jim Paczkowski holds up a T-shirt and wears a hat celebrating V-J Day, which stands for “Victory Over Japan,” the day in 1945 that the Japanese surrendered, ending World War II. The shirts, hats, and pins are available at the chamber office, Patchwood Plaza, 14797 State Street South, Hillman. Hats are $20, shirts are $15, and pins are $5.

HILLMAN — Seventy-seven years ago, Japan ceased fighting on Aug. 15, 1945, leading to their formal surrender on Sept. 2, ending World War II.

Nearly eight decades later, the small village of Hillman has not skipped a beat, celebrating Victory Over Japan Day, or V-J Day, every year, including 2020.

Many other municipalities and states nationwide have ceased to celebrate the day, citing that the name is offensive to Japanese people. As World War II veterans get older and die, interest has dwindled and many celebrations have stopped.

But Hillman won’t be one of those towns that quits commemorating the historical day.

Bob Hunt has been commander at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2356 in Hillman since 2013.

“We’ve done it right since the end of the war, and nobody in Hillman wants to stop it,” Hunt said. “We had the parade and everything, right during COVID.”

Hunt served in the U.S. Army in the Korean War from 1961 to 1964. He was a demolition specialist in the Army.

“Why should it end? It’s victory over Japan,” Hunt said. “It ended the war. If they wouldn’t have ended the war the way they did, millions and millions more people would have died on both sides.”

“It’s very important to the old veterans, because it was victory over Japan, and in those days, they celebrated things like that,” Hillman Area Chamber of Commerce President Jim Paczkowski said. “They don’t do it much anymore in the communities, because everybody’s worried about politics, and nobody’s worried about us veterans. So we celebrate it to commemorate our veterans as long as we can.”

V-J Day is a community event, organized and sponsored by the VFW and Hillman Area Chamber of Commerce, but the whole town shows up and helps out.

“Everybody’s working together,” Hunt said.

He said the Village of Hillman used to handle the festivities, but they stopped and the VFW took over several years ago.

“The Chamber joined us,” Hunt said. “We’re still doing it, and we’re going to continue as long as the VFW is still alive.”

Hunt added that it’s a celebration of freedom, and no one should be offended by that.

“I think it’s great,” Hunt added. “I think every town in this country should do it.”

A host of activities are slated throughout Hillman Thursday through Sunday.

“I don’t think there’s anybody from Hillman that’s not going to come out,” Hunt said. “We have people from even out of state, or downstate. Everybody knows that it’s the second Saturday in August, always. It always has been, and they plan on it.”

Paczkowski served in the U.S. Navy from 1961 to 1966.

“I needed it,” he said of joining the military.

He said the V-J Day celebration used to be a lot larger, “but, now, it is still one of the major events.”

Thursday is the V-J Day Pageant at 7 p.m. at Patchwood Plaza in Hillman. The entrance fee is $3 for ages 4 to 11, and $5 for ages 12 and older.

On Friday, a white elephant and bake sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Augustine Church. A book sale will be from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Hillman Library. Then a fish fry will be from 4 to 7 p.m. at the VFW Hall.

Also on Friday, Hillman Christian Academy will host a Summer Family Fun night from 6 to 9 p.m. at the academy, 331 W. 3rd St., Hillman. This event will include live music, an auction, food, games, and a raffle for a bundle of beef. For more information, call 989-742-4487 or visit hillmanchristianfamily.com/hillman-christian-academy.

V-J Day T-shirts, hats, and pins are for sale at the Hillman Area Chamber of Commerce office, 14797 State St. S. Call the Chamber at 989-742-3739.

On Saturday, V-J Day events continue, with a breakfast from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at the VFW Post 2356 Hall, for those in the parade. The book sale at the Hillman Library continues from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. is a white elephant and bake sale at St. Augustine Church. Brush Creek Mill’s Hometown Heroes Military Display and gift shop will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Craft vendors and booths will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. between Dairy Queen and the car wash. Brats and hot dogs, refreshments, a bounce house, Sparky the Fire Prevention Dog, and tours will be available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hillman Fire Hall.

Then at noon is the VFW Grand Parade, with a Coast Guard flyover and national anthem at noon. The Coast Guard Color Guard is going to lead the parade, Hunt said, and the Hillman VFW, Posen VFW, and Onaway VFW will be there, too. State VFW Commander John Griffith will attend the parade, Hunt added.

“I’ll be 80 in November, and, I tell you what, I told my wife, I’m going to march in that parade until they pick me up off the pavement,” Hunt said.

After the parade, hot dogs, brats and chips for everyone will be available by donation at the VFW Hall. Also after the parade, Quilts of Valor will be presented to veterans at Patchwood Plaza.

Ladies in the community make the quilts and donate them, Paczkowski said.

“It’s really nice,” Paczkowski said. “There will be 15 veterans receiving quilts this year.”

He added that you can only receive a Quilt of Valor once in your lifetime.

Also on Saturday, free face painting will be from noon to 4 p.m. at Patchwood Plaza, in front of the chamber office.

A cornhole tournament will be held at 1 p.m. at Patchwood Plaza, 14797 State St. S., Hillman. The entry fee is $20 per team, and prizes will be awarded to the first-, second-, and third-place teams. For more information about the cornhole tournament, call 989-464-0570 or 989-742-2605. There will be hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn, and pop available.

A kids sawdust scramble will be held, with ages 2 to 5 from 2 to 2:45 p.m., and ages 5 to 10 at 2:45 p.m.

“We have sawdust in a big pile, and we throw $400 in there, and let the kids find the coins,” Paczkowski explained.

A dunk tank will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. You’ll find out who’s in the tank when you come ready to throw!

Beachbillies Music will be from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Patchwood Plaza, by donation.

A Car Cruise Night by the Wheels Car Club will be from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at Thunder Bay Resort.

A free concert will be from 7 to 9 p.m. at the bandshell, featuring the Royston Rednecks.

Fireworks will be at dusk over the Thunder Bay River at Emerick Park. Paczkowski added that the fireworks will be even better this year than last year.

On Sunday, V-J Day events continue, with a car show and swap meet from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., presented by the Wheels Car Club of Hillman, in the parking lot behind the Hi-Way Bar. Trophies will be presented at 3:30 p.m. Also at 8 a.m. is registration for the Tiger Golf Scramble, with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. at Thunder Bay Resort. The cost is $70 per person for this Hillman Athletic Booster fundraiser.

“This is so large of an event, that it takes the whole community,” Paczkowski said. “And every group has a little thing that they do.”

For more information, call the Chamber office at 989-742-3739.