VE Day 70 Years On
 

Sadly the UK General Election is overshadowing the anniversary of VE Day - the end of WWII in Europe, and the destruction of the Third Reich and the evil ideology of Nazism. It followed years of struggle and sacrifice.

However - events are taking place.

A weekend to remember in London for VE Day 70

Friday 8 May 2015 is the anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe Day), marking 70 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe. Three days of events in London and across the UK will mark the historic anniversary of end of the Second World War in Europe, including beacon-lighting events, parades, and street parties.

There are lots of ways people can take part in the national events over VE Day weekend, 8-10 May:

Friday 8 May - VE Day

At 3pm a Service of Remembrance will be held at the Cenotaph, coinciding with a national two-minute silence, to be televised on BBC One. This will mark the moment Winston Churchill broadcast his historic speech formally announcing the end of the war. Members of the public are invited to mark the two-minute silence wherever they are.

Saturday 9 May

In the evening, thousands of people will attend a Royal British Legion concert produced by Live Nation and the BBC. The star-studded 1940s themed “Party to Remember” will be held at Horse Guards Parade Ground. Broadcast on BBC One, the event will feature performances from acts including Status Quo, Pixie Lott and Katherine Jenkins. For more information and to get tickets visit: http://bit.ly/1G0fZCv.

Sunday 10 May

On Sunday 10 May there will be a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey, attended by Her Majesty The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, members of The Royal Family, and up to 1,000 veterans and their families. Representatives of Allied Nations and Commonwealth countries who fought alongside Britain in the conflict will also attend.

Members of the public are invited to line Parliament Square and Whitehall to see the VE Day parade after the service, which will include members of the Armed Forces, veterans and bands. There will also be seating for the general public in stands overlooking Horse Guards Parade, where they will be able to watch the morning’s service at Westminster Abbey from big screens, and the parade of members of the Armed Forces and veterans as they finish their journey from Whitehall. 3,000 seats will be available on a first come first served basis on the morning, via Horse Guards Road. However, if you are unable to get a seat in the stands, you will be able to view all the colour and spectacle of the parade in the streets in Whitehall and Parliament Square.Entry will be subject to the necessary security checks. If you would like to attend do not bring large bags where possible.

During the parade, there will be a flypast over Central London of the Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and the world-famous Red Arrows.

Throughout the weekend (8-10 May)

In 1945 Trafalgar Square, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Houses of Parliament were floodlit and beginning on the Friday they will be lit up again with special V-shaped lights. It will be possible to see the lights on Friday from 9.30pm to midnight and on Saturday and Sunday from 8.30pm – midnight.

Public transport will be the best way to get to the events, although stations in the surrounding area (Embankment, Victoria, St James’s Park, Westminster and Charing Cross) are likely to be busier than usual. People travelling to the VE Day 70 anniversary events, or around the areas of the events, are encouraged to check before they travel at tfl.gov.uk/weekend-travel and nationalrail.co.uk/may.

Personally I will be thinking of members of my family who contributed to the victory, most notably my late Grandfather (an RN senior rate Gunner) and my late Uncle (RAF Flight Engineer - initially Bomber Command and later Costal Command).

To be honest I expected/hoped for more interest than this - perhaps other people thinking of relatives who fought?

Anyway:

Victory in Europe (VE) Day celebrations

Royal Navy marks Victory in Europe Day

Lot of dust in the air this afternoon...................

Meanwhile in about 15 mins t'other side of the pond


The Arsenal of Democracy flypast


Arsenal of Democracy: World War II Victory Capitol Flyover - DaCast


V1

It will be a BIG day in Jersey tomorrow, as it's the 70th Anniversary of Liberation Day

Not surprisingly, it attracts a lot of attention here.

Dieu les bénisse.

Two minutes silence announced and observed (pretty well) in Tesco, Helston this afternoon. Took me by surprise, as I hadn't been aware there was going to be a national silence, but pleased all the same.

Probably not the Lancaster!

http://www.pprune.org/military-aviat...gine-fire.html

Jersey's 2-minutes is tomorrow, and the Bailiff has said flag are NOT to be flown at half-mast! On the full, in celebration of Liberation, please.

Dad attended the VE Day celebration at the Cenotaph and had a front row seat. On the trip there the taxi driver refused to accept his fare, and the passengers on the bus were wanting to see and hear about his medals. I am so grateful to the help given to him, and very, very proud of him. He was just 21 when he was shot down and captured, subsequently escaping twice from Stalag IVb having swopped places with a soldier to get himself out of Stalag Luft IVb.

http://www.eacott.com.au/gallery/d/7153-2/IMG_0131.jpg

Apparently he could manage the stairs, but didn't want to pass up the opportunity :ok:

http://www.eacott.com.au/gallery/d/7156-2/IMG_0133.jpg

Front row on the right, next to his grandson in the white shirt (who has escorted him from Australia, despite having a prosthetic lower limb)

http://www.eacott.com.au/gallery/d/7159-2/IMG_0135.jpg

http://www.eacott.com.au/gallery/d/7150-2/IMG_0117.jpg

Nice tribute up here. At 11:00 hrs this morning all the boats in Aberdeen harbour sounded their horns, strangely moving.

Sad that the UK and US snubbed Russian celebrations of VE day.
The losses suffered by the Russians were huge and deserved recognition.
If the poloticians couldn't or wouldn't attend then at least some top ranking Service personel should have been sent to pay their respects.

How odd that the Brits, and others, left out of the Arc de Triomphe ceremony in Paris yesterday. One might have mistakenly thought it was the Frogs and the Yanks did it all

I think the VE70 events this weekend were done very well.