DOLLAR'S strong connection to Victory over Japan Day was honoured at the weekend with a 75th anniversary memorial service.

People gathered at Dollar Memorial Gardens early in the morning on Saturday, August 15, to pay their respects to the fallen.

Organised by Clackmannan's Donna Dickie, who has a family connection to the town, the event saw a service led by Rev Christopher Lowdon of St James the Great.

The memorial started at 6am with young piper Hayden Thomson, a pupil at Alva Academy, playing Battle's O'er.

He joined thousands of others across the globe in a day-long initiative which saw pipers play the tune at 6am local time, starting in New Zealand.

Organiser Donna, whose father William Dickie was a submariner in the conflict, told the Advertiser the memorial event was "very well appreciated" with many people connecting on the day.

Indeed, a family from as far as Canada joined in in spirit, asking Donna to lay a flower for Hugh Cowan, one of their relatives on the town's war memorial.

"It just blew me away, actually", said Donna. "The girl from Canada, her father unfortunately did not make it back.

"He was killed four months before the war ended."

Also remembering on the day was the family of William Gordon Hyde, who was a prisoner of war.

Donna was also delighted to have Dollar veterans Robert Sheriff, Ian Alston and Stephen Leitch in attendance on the day.

She wanted to thank young piper Hayden and Rev Lowdon for their help in marking 75 years since Imperial Japan surrendered in World War II.

Also highlighting the importance of the day was Clackmannanshire's Lord Lieutenant Johnny Stewart.

He told the Advertiser: "The war in the far east lingered on for three long months after the end of the war in Europe.

"Many who fought against the Japanese felt they were part of a forgotten army.

"They fought in unimaginable conditions and those who were captured endured appalling treatment by their Japanese captors.

"The 75th anniversary of VJ Day is as important as the anniversary of VE Day and we owe so much to those who fought and the many who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the jungles of Burma and beyond.

"We should all take a moment to remember them."