Rhode Island

Monday is Victory Day in Rhode Island — a holiday worth reconsidering – The Boston Globe

Published

2 years ago

August 8, 2024

Monday is Victory Day in Rhode Island — a holiday worth reconsidering – The Boston Globe

Rhode Island is the only state in the nation that observes a holiday to commemorate the victory over Japan in World War II. Now there’s a fierce debate about the holiday.

Victory Day, the second Monday in August, honors the estimated 92,000 Rhode Islanders who served in the war and the more than 2,200 of them who were killed. Rhode Island first adopted the holiday in 1948. Arkansas adopted Victory Day as a state holiday in 1949 but abandoned it 1975, choosing to give state workers a day off for their birthdays instead.

A Democratic state lawmaker in Rhode Island, Jennifer Stewart, introduced legislation this year to change Victory Day to Peace and Remembrance Day. She has been accused of dishonoring World War II veterans. “I think this is an atrocity that you’re taking away the honor and bravery that those men and women deserve,” state Representative Patricia Morgan said at a State House hearing. “What they did was honorable and not something that should be criticized.”

Stewart counters that she wants to honor the sacrifices of the past while establishing a more peaceful future. The holiday’s association with victory over Japan “belies the harsh truth that military victories are often built on civilian injury and death,” Stewart says.

As a Rhode Island native, I’ve lived on both sides of the debate.

I came of age marching in V-J Day parades in downtown Providence with my dad, a World War II Army veteran who advanced to the rank of major after serving four years in the China-India-Burma theater. Every August he’d wear his military uniform, I my Boy Scout khakis. The atomic bombs that the United States used to decimate Hiroshima and Nagasaki meant my father’s life had been spared from being summoned into further combat. It meant we had won against Japanese aggressors who had masterminded the murderous attack on Pearl Harbor. When I marched alongside my dad on Victory Day, I was convinced the Japanese got what they deserved.

But as an adult and a newspaper editor, my opinion changed: I met Sakue Shimohira, who was an 8-year-old girl when the second atomic bomb fell on Nagasaki and still suffered from radiation sickness as an adult.

“I remember how the houses were all blown to bits,” she said at a lecture in Providence. “In the river, the water was gone and there were many dead bodies. I found my eldest sister dead under the rubble. My mother was missing. I found her later that day. I recognized her body by her gold tooth. I touched her body and it disintegrated into ashes.”

After I reported on her speech, she asked me to mail her a copy. A month later she wrote to me, urging me to apply for a journalism fellowship, a 10-week residence in Japan to interview survivors like her, known in Japan as “hibakusha.” The fellowship was sponsored by the Hiroshima region’s daily newspaper, Chugoku Shimbun, and named the Akiba Project after Tad Akiba, a Tufts University professor who was later elected mayor of Hiroshima.

I was selected for the fellowship. One of the members of the selection panel was the author John Hersey, whose first-person account of traveling to Hiroshima appeared in The New Yorker in 1946. He told me his life had been forever changed when he interviewed the survivors. He said that I should expect the same.

Hersey was right. I am still haunted, especially when Victory Day rolls around each year, by the testimonies I heard during my 10-week residency in Japan. Even if I believed Japan’s leaders had brought on the carnage and hellfires that consumed Japanese civilians, how could I ever come to terms with the radiation sickness that plagued people like Sakue Shimohira throughout their lives?

Yet it is not only what the survivors told me they witnessed that continues to disturb me. It’s the fact that nuclear weapons still exist — and more are being developed by rogue nations such as Iran and North Korea. As Tad Akiba has argued, the only way to prevent a nuclear attack “is the total abolition of nuclear weapons.”

Japanese leadership signed surrender documents on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2, 1945.Max Desfor/Associated Press

This level of awareness is what Stewart hopes to promote by renaming Victory Day. Her bill failed to pass in the 2024 legislative session, but she says she will keep pushing the bill if she wins reelection this fall.

“I intend to play the long game. Rhode Island is a forward-thinking state. We changed the name of our state four years ago,” she told me, referring to the 2020 referendum in which Rhode Islanders voted to remove “and Providence Plantations” from the state’s name.

“We can do that again with V-J Day. What happens here can influence our nation. Judging on the positive responses I’ve received, I believe we will succeed.”

Robert Israel is a Boston-based writer and a contributor to Harvard University’s Divinity School Bulletin. He can be reached at risrael_97@yahoo.com.

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Related Topics:Day Featured II japan papers People signing surrender unconditional v-j War witnesses world

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Rhode Island

A Hidden Bristol Gem Is Opening Its Trails for Free

Published

22 hours ago

April 16, 2026

Press Room

A Hidden Bristol Gem Is Opening Its Trails for Free

It is one of my all-time favorite places for exploring the outdoors with my kids and this weekend you can go for free.

A Free Day at One of Rhode Island’s Best Nature Spots

On Saturday, April 18, the Audubon Society of Rhode Island (ASRI) is once again hosting their Free Family Fun Day at the Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium in Bristol thanks to Bank of America. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. visitors can enjoy the trails, aquarium, and animals of this nearly 10,000 acre natural habitat near Narragansett Bay.

Exclusive to this weekend’s event will be the official opening of a new art exhibit.

New Woodpecker Art Exhibit Debuts This Weekend

Since last fall, work has been underway on the “Wings Unfurled: Downy Woodpeckers Define Their Space” art exhibit with Brown University and RISD. Visitors were even able to help with the painting of giant woodpecker wings that have now been installed along the nature trails.

Family Activities Happening Throughout the Day

Throughout the day, crafts, coloring, and DIY pinecone birdfeeder activities will be happening around the property. You can explore the indoor aquarium, featuring a 33-foot life-size model of a North Atlantic Right Whale. Plus, at the back of the nature trails is a wooden bridge path that will eventually lead you to an overlook of Narragansett Bay, with great views and possibly even an osprey sighting.

Nancy Hall/Townsquare Media

With spring weather here and school vacation week kicking off, Saturday may be the perfect time to adventure outdoors for some free family fun at the Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium in Bristol. It’s definitely on my to-do list this weekend.

Explore Land and Sea at Bristol’s Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium

Need a day of hiking, biking and seeing a 33-foot North Atlantic Right Whale replica? Then you need to head to the Rhode Island Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium in Bristol.

You can hike through various habitats, enjoy a peaceful pondside picnic and even enjoy an interactive aquarium full of native fish and sea creatures.

Fun for the whole family can be found at this hidden gem of Rhode Island.

Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall

Simmons Mill Pond Trail in Little Compton Is the Perfect Excuse to Get Outside

Take a walk through the quiet woods of Little Compton, Rhode Island and hit the reset button on life. Simmons Mill Pond Management Area can be accessed via Colebrook and John Dyer roads.

Gallery Credit: Gazelle

See Inside Gorgeous Gardens Hidden Away in Little Compton

For nearly 50 years the grounds of Sakonnet Garden have been growing in what might be the most private garden along the coast.

On certain days, at certain times you can make a reservation to walk among the hundreds of flowers and plants growing in hidden “rooms” on the grounds, or take a sneak peek right now.

Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall

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Rhode Island

URI to award honorary degrees to entrepreneurs Marc Randolph and Dan Harple, and anti-poverty advocate Kate Brewster

Published

1 day ago

April 16, 2026

Press Room

URI to award honorary degrees to entrepreneurs Marc Randolph and Dan Harple, and anti-poverty advocate Kate Brewster

KINGSTON, R.I.—April 16, 2026—Marc Randolph, co-founder and first CEO of streaming giant Netflix; Daniel L. Harple Jr., chair and CEO of Context Labs; and Katherine Angell Brewster, CEO of the Jonnycake Center for Hope in South Kingstown, will be awarded honorary degrees by the University of Rhode Island next month.

Each honoree will be recognized for their considerable professional and personal achievements during commencement ceremonies, May 15-17, at the Thomas M. Ryan Center on the Kingston Campus. Randolph will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws and serve as keynote speaker during commencement ceremonies for URI’s College of Business on Friday, May 15, at 4 p.m. Harple will receive an honorary Doctor of Science during commencement ceremonies for the College of Engineering on Saturday, May 16, at 5 p.m. Brewster will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during ceremonies for URI’s Feinstein College of Education on Sunday, May 17, at 1 p.m.

“Each of this year’s honorary degree recipients has made a profound and lasting impact on the communities they serve,” said URI President Marc Parlange. “Through their groundbreaking work in technology, business, AI, mentorship, and social welfare, they have continually expanded the horizons of what is possible—always guided by a commitment to leave the world and their communities better than they found them. These are the values we strive to cultivate in our students every day, and I am honored to recognize their extraordinary achievements during our commencement celebrations next month.”

“It is a privilege to welcome this year’s honorary degree recipients, who have demonstrated such dedication to their work, their values, and their communities,” said Barbara Wolfe, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “Their impact serves as a powerful example to our students of what they too can achieve, and we look forward to celebrating their achievements at this year’s commencement ceremonies.”

Marc Randolph, co-founder and former CEO of streaming giant Netflix, will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws and serve as keynote speaker during commencement ceremonies for URI’s College of Business on Friday, May 15, at 4 p.m. (Photo courtesy: Marc Randolph)

Marc Randolph

Randolph is best known as the co-founder and first CEO of Netflix. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he has built a reputation as a serial entrepreneur, founding or co-founding more than half a dozen successful startups. He has also mentored countless early-stage entrepreneurs and invested in a wide range of successful technology ventures.

Most recently, Randolph co-founded Looker Data Sciences, which was acquired by Google in 2019 for $2.6 billion. He currently serves on the board of the National Outdoor Leadership School in Lander, Wyoming; the Truckee Donner Land Trust; and Cheeze Technologies.

Randolph is the author of the international bestselling memoir “That Will Never Work: The Birth of Netflix and the Amazing Life of an Idea.” He is the entrepreneur-in-residence at High Point University, an entrepreneurship leadership fellow at MIT, and a featured investor on Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Elevator Pitch” web series.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in geology from Hamilton College.

Daniel L. Harple Jr.

A technology entrepreneur and CEO for more than 30 years, Daniel L. Harple Jr. is considered an internet pioneer who has founded and built technologies, companies, and products used by billions of internet users. He has founded, grown, and merged companies with Netscape Communications, Oracle, and Sina, among others, driving at-scale global innovation and impacting users the world over. These innovations established foundational standards for internet collaboration, media streaming, and VoIP, used daily by billions across platforms such as Zoom, Skype, and YouTube.

Harple is chair and CEO of Context Labs BV, a company he founded based on his MIT research. The company delivers AI‑driven, auditable intelligence for industrial data, carbon management, and compliance. It provides AI-ready data infrastructure for global energy markets, creating context for the world’s most challenging persistent problems.

He is the recipient of numerous awards, including Inc. Magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year, the Red Herring Watch Award, the Upside Hot Startup Award, the University of Rhode Island’s Alumni Excellence Award for Contributions to Science and Technology, and the NEA (New Enterprise Associates) President’s Award.

Harple holds an advanced degree from MIT and bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering and psychology from the University of Rhode Island.

Katherine Angell Brewster

Brewster has served as CEO of South Kingstown’s Jonnycake Center for Hope for more than a decade, leading the organization through a period of significant growth to become a cornerstone of support for residents facing economic hardship and providing food, financial assistance, housing and youth programming to more than 2,000 individuals.

During her tenure, Brewster has led the organization’s expansion into new initiatives, including the development of affordable housing and the creation of the Jonnycake Youth Center. Her career has spanned direct service and public policy, giving her a deep understanding of the systemic challenges facing families and the practical solutions that help communities thrive.

Prior to the Jonnycake Center, Brewster was executive director of the Economic Progress Institute, Rhode Island’s leading anti-poverty research and advocacy organization. She has also served on the boards of several prominent organizations, including the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and Thundermist Health Center.

In 2022, she was honored with the Murray Family Prize in recognition of her commitment to improving the lives of Rhode Islanders in need. Brewster holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from the University of Rhode Island and a Master of Social Work from Rhode Island College.

To learn more or to view a full schedule of ceremonies over URI’s Spring 2026 Commencement Weekend, visit: uri.edu/commencement/.

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Rhode Island

Two Rhode Island men charged, arraigned, after concealed 1.8 pounds of cocaine, gun, cash, seized

Published

2 days ago

April 15, 2026

Press Room

Two Rhode Island men charged, arraigned, after concealed 1.8 pounds of cocaine, gun, cash, seized

Coventry, R.I. – According to police, over the past several months, detectives with the Coventry Police Department’s Special Operations Unit initiated a narcotics investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating in and around the Town of Coventry. Through extensive surveillance and investigative efforts, detectives identified 33-year-old Richard Martin Jr., of Beach Street, Coventry, R.I., as the primary target of the investigation.

During the course of the investigation, multiple associates were identified, along with additional residences, located within the City of Warwick, frequently utilized by Martin Jr. and his associates.

On April 6th, detectives from the Coventry Police Department, in conjunction with detectives from the Warwick Police Department, executed multiple court-authorized search warrants in an effort to dismantle the organization.

During the course of a search warrant in Coventry, detectives, along with K9 Nixo, located approximately 1.8 pounds of suspected cocaine concealed within a sophisticated vehicle hide. Additionally, a 9mm handgun, a large sum of cash, along with packaging and weighing materials consistent with drug trafficking, were recovered from the residence.

As a result of the investigation, Martin Jr. has been charged with two counts of Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, Use of a Firearm While Committing a Crime of Violence, and Controlled Substance Conspiracy.

Additionally, 40-year-old Jason Tallo, of Warwick, R.I., an alleged narcotics trafficking accomplice of Martin Jr., was taken into custody in the Town of Coventry and was subsequently charged with Controlled Substance Conspiracy.

Martin Jr. and Tallo were transported to Kent County District Court, where they were arraigned on their respective charges before a 3rd District Court judge. Martin Jr. was subsequently ordered to be held without bail, while Tallo had his bail set at $25,000 with surety.

This investigation remains ongoing and additional arrests are expected

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