It appeared to be an attitude of heartfelt thankfulness for great things accomplished, accompanied  by a firm and grim determination to finish up the rest of the job with all possible dispatch.  

The observance in Eau Claire, following the 8 o'clock broadcast by  President Truman this morning, was marked by a general cessation of business and public activity and announcement of special services of thanksgiving and prayer by the various churches. 

All stores and business places, including all taverns, remained closed, drugstores and eating places were open for an hour or so in the morning but closed later; the city hall and courthouse were also closed. Some of the offices at the courthouse were open for a short time this morning, including the county court  and the office of the district attorney, but these were closed after  scheduled county and probate court  matters had been cleared. 

Special exercises and programs were held in the schools of the city in observance of V-E Day. 

However, all of Eau Claire's big industrial establishments, with the exception of the Western Electric Company, were in operation as usual in line with previous decisions that, as there was still a war on—that with Japan—the best observance of V-E Day would be by pushing production of goods that would hasten the day of victory over the Nipponese.  

At Saint Patrick's and Sacred Heart Catholic Churches, special prayers of thanksgiving were offered up at the various morning masses, following President Truman's announcement of the surrender of the German armies, and announcement was made of holy hour services at 7:30 tonight at both these churches in commemoration of V-E Day. 

Union services were scheduled for tonight at 7:30 at both the First Congregational Church and at Christ Church Cathedral, with other Protestant churches participating, and special V-E Day thanksgiving services were announced for 7:30 and 8:00 tonight in all the individual churches of the various Lutheran bodies and other churches. 

Lutheran Conference Churches 
According to the Reverend Martin T. Jenson, secretary of the American Lutheran Conference in Eau Claire, all churches belonging to that body will have services this evening at 7:30 p.m. at their respective churches. 

Penitence and thanksgiving to God will be the thoughts permeating these services in the singing, the Scripture lessons, and the sermons. The general public is invited to participate in any one of these worship services. Churches and pastors are listed with street addresses: 

First Lutheran, Agnar S. Tanner, Oxford and Central; 
Grace Lutheran, West Grand Avenue and Second Avenue, Professor Leonard Hass in charge; 
Our Savior's, Martin T. Jenson, pastor, Fulton and Oxford; 
Immanuel, G. L. Bongfeldt, pastor, South Farwell and Gray; 
St. John's, George H. Vollmer, pastor, South Dewey and Gibson; 
Hope Lutheran, Eddy Lane and Starr Avenue, Vernon Anderson, pastor, will hold its services at 8:00 tonight.

Joint services
Union services will be held at 7:30 o'clock tonight at the First Congregational Church and Christ Church Cathedral. 

Churches in nearby neighborhoods are cooperating in these centers, and citizens of Eau Claire are urged to use the occasion to offer their prayers of gratitude and penitence, and to unite their hopes for the speedy cessation of hostilities in the Pacific. 

Identical services are being held, using the form supplied by the Federal Council of Churches, and people of all faiths are welcome in any of these services. The individual churches of the city will hold special service next Sunday, in accordance with President Truman's proclamation. 

The services tonight at the First Congregational Church and the Christ Church are union services sponsored by the Eau Claire Ministerial Association.  

Thanksgiving and Prayer 
At the First Lutheran Church, a service of thanksgiving and prayer will be conducted in the church sanctuary. The senior choir, under the direction of Edgar Hagen, will sing the choral anthem, O God, Our Help in Ages Past. Mrs. Nels Hanshus and Mrs. Harold Berg will sing the vocal duet, Calvary, by Rodney. The pastor will bring a short meditation. The public is invited. 

Services will be held at 8 o'clock  tonight at the English Lutheran  Church of Our Redeemer, at Epiphany Lutheran, and at St. Matthew's Lutheran.  

The Lutheran Church of St. Matthew will have a special service of praise and thanksgiving with appropriate prayers and a message by  the pastor, the Reverend C. L. Thalacker.  

Christian Science Services 
A special V-E service will be held  First Church of Christ Scientist,  corner of Gray and South Farwell Streets at  8:00 p.m. tonight. 

V-E Day Elsewhere 
(By Associated Press) 
Today was officially Victory in Europe Day for those Wisconsin communities which had held off festivities and services, pending the presidential proclamation but, in many cities and towns in the state,  the declaration was an anticlimax.

Some communities felt  the occasion was big enough for two celebrations, and yesterday's spontaneous ceremonies were carried over into today.

But, in most cities and towns, there was little revelry in keeping with the spirit that the war was only "half won."

Citizens bowed their heads in prayers of thanksgiving yesterday, and churches today threw open their doors and arranged special services, many of them in memory of their fallen sons.

War industry workers generally stuck to their jobs, and only a few halts were reported yesterday. Today, some industries shut down and, in many communities, complete business holidays were observed. 

The armistice signed in the red brick school house at Reims, France resulted in a holiday today for many Wisconsin school boys and girls. Other schools held special commemorative ceremonies, and still others closed their doors early after brief services.

In Oshkosh, today was observed as V-E Day and, except for the State Teachers College which held a special war program, schools shut down and most war industries dismissed day shift workers. Stores and taverns closed, and churches held special services.

At Wausau, industrial workers stayed on the job today, and schools had special programs. Business offices closed and a 33 degree temperature, along with a light snowfall, forced cancellation of a public V-E Day program.

Stern Task Ahead
In Milwaukee, Colonel W. Lutz Krigbaum, Commanding Officer of the Wisconsin-Upper Michigan District of the Sixth Service Command, called for a rededication "to the even sterner task that lies ahead." He said:

"You, the people of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan District, can be rightfully proud of the victory that is ours today. You have made real and personal sacrifices during this war ... As a member of the Army Service Forces, I wish to express the thanks of our Armed Forces for your untiring effort in helping us to maintain a constant flow of men and materials to the fighting fronts all over the world. I know that all of you, on this day of victory in Europe, will rededicate yourselves to the even sterner task that lies ahead, and that you will continue to work and pray and live with one objective in mind—to defeat the Japanese as quickly and as bloodlessly as possible—in order that we may all soon know the joys of peace and plenty again." 

At Superior, three pastors employed at the Globe Shipbuilding Company Yards, conducted an impromptu service, after which the workers returned to their jobs.

At Manitowoc, pupils of Lincoln High School held memorial services for 49 students who lost their lives in the war. The Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, which has turned out submarines and other naval craft, raised its fifth "E" pennant.

The Milwaukee County Board, setting an example, continued its sessions as usual. There was no excitement in downtown Milwaukee, and the wheels of industry hummed as usual. Church services last night were well-attended.