Hawaii marked 81 years since Japan's surrender aboard the USS Missouri, a quiet remembrance rather than breaking news, aimed at keeping the war's lessons alive.

• Veterans, service members and families gathered at Pearl Harbor on the anniversary of the surrender that ended the war.
• The ship sits just yards from where the U.S. entry into the war began, tying the start and end of the conflict to the same harbor.
• A student exchange program brings young people from Hiroshima to Pearl Harbor to learn the history first-hand.
• Organizers say standing on the deck teaches more than a history book, and they want the site preserved for future generations.

Outlook: The memorial plans to keep expanding its education and exchange programs as the last World War II generation fades.