VE Day “celebrations”

GillT57 I so agree. We have been at peace with Germany for 75 years - let's celebrate peace, not victory. No triumphalism.

On the other hand the village children (and my own grandchildren who
Live far away in th UK ) have been learning about the war and VE day in particular in their home learning this week and are interested in the topic. . We are planning a picnic in front of our houses at 4 pm n my street with some music from the 1940s and most (not all) seem keen to join in, especially the younger families. A chance socialise with neighbours in a harmless way and we all need a bit of a break at the moment.
And to me its not celebrating war, or victory but being grateful for peace which we have had by and large for the last 75 years in this country. (Although Im aware that there is always conflict in some parts of the world). Im doing if largely for the children.

Yes I’ve had a letter dropped through my door about it in my street. I ever celebrate VE Day , that was there time and their war....... Covid 19 ,is a stealthy ... unseen enemy... and hits all of us ... and is truly a ‘ world war’. I see nothing to celebrate at all.In 20 years time does anyone think we’ll be celebrating what can only be classed as human failure... as all wars are! I don’t think so! I will observe the silence but there will be NO jingoistic flag waving.

We must remember and yes why not celebrate
Thousands and thousands of young men lost their lives
We owe them everything

I'm not sure I want to celebrate VE day anyway.
Commemorating those who lost their lives is one thing but celebrating??

What we are going through now is of no comparison
It’s dreadful people have lost their lives through the virus
But those young men are our past, our saviours and suffered immeasurably
We should celebrate that it ended in Europe and commemorate those true heroes
To use what is happening now as an excuse to feel sorry for ourselves, or to even compare it to what they went through makes no sense

Agree entirely with your comments

The end of such an appalling war where 40 million civilians last their lives particularly in the concentration camps and is certainly one that should be remembered and reflected on.

I feel a bit uncomfortable if it becomes a celebration which doesn’t sit well with me.

Craftycat, I am with you. My maternal Grandfather was a prisoner in Burma and my father was in the RAF also in the Far East - my Mum is not celebrating. Grandad came home on a train and walked the last 3 miles with his kitbag. He was very bitter about the lack of recognition compared to the VE day victory parades.

Seem to be some on here who regard life as a miserable slog to be endured and definitely not enjoyed.

OH’s Uncle who was killed at 23 years old would have been the first up and dancing so I doubt he would begrudge people marking VE Day however they choose. Isn’t that one of the reasons the war was fought? To allow people choice in their own destiny?

Ingeloran. My son usually plays the Last Post at several Anzac Day services, and I’m proud that he stood outside his house to play it this year.
I remember our street party on VE Day very vividly. I was almost 7, and I don’t think that I really understood what it was about. The abnormal life during the war was just normal to me. I couldn’t remember my father, and felt very uncomfortable about this stranger who had moved in with us. I think that my mother found it difficult, too, after being in charge for so long.
I haven’t heard of any local celebrations. My choir had planned a concert, now aborted, of course. I will mark the occasion by quietly thinking about those who haven’t returned from the wars, and the hospitals.

This is certainly not the time for this jingoistic nonsense. I do not understand this determined link between Covid-19 and World Wars. I am well aware that this is a time for us to look out for each other, but we do not need a warp in time to do that. Have a party by all means, have it because we are happy to see each other, and possibly some let up of the lockdown.

I agree with Nansnet …..life must go on, however difficult it is if you have lost a loved one …..living in France, the local mayor holds a ceremony every year in remembrance of two young Scottish airmen who died following a successful bombing raid blowing up a large train full of munitions thereby saving thousands of people living in the local town. I have been criticised for helping organise the ceremony (the Gendarmerie, the Pompiers, local dignitaries, RAF France, the RBL France, and children from local schools attend ...they even have a Piper ..BUT my answer to those who say it glorifies war ..sorry but you are WRONG ...it remembers those who gave their lives to give us our freedom ...and that is a reason to remember them all

I am making afternoon tea snack boxes to be distributed through the family, my house will be adorned with decorations. This will only be for us, there will be no neighbours. We always celebrate VE day and VJ day.
Our main celebrations will be for VJ day.

If I read one more article about VE day being the end of the war I think I may POP!

I had a grandfather in the Arctic Circle and a Great Uncle who was a FEPOW. It's a honour for me to be able to celebrate their heroism for this and other countries.

Craftycat, my heart breaks for your grandpa and what he had to endure. Many of these soldiers never talked about their experiences. I will remember him and many like him on VE day. It's not a celebration, it's a remembrance, should be solemn

I would celebrate that six years of tyranny had ended at the same time remembering those who gave their lives members of my own family included,in making this happen.The day it ended should carry on being remembered making sure future generations are aware that atrocities, and, for those, unbelievably after all this time, who choose to believe 'did not happen' but as shown on film DID happen.

Craftycat. My father was also in Changi jail, the way the Japanese prisoners of war were treated on their return was a national disgrace. I find it hard that they are the forgotten army.

We will be breaking our lock in to sit on the front wall and join the party our local DJ has arranged on our street. It’s to celebrate the end of war in Europe and to remember all those who sacrificed to achieve it. I believe there will be a speech by Mr Churchill and a song or two from Vera Lynn. We will be taking sausage rolls, cake and sharing a bottle of beer.

I've had a leaflet pushed through my letterbox, saying that a "street party" will be taking place on Friday afternoon. I can't see the point in being outside my house (with a drink and snack) to wave at neighbours along the street.

My own parents were in the services during the war - Mum in ATS, Dad a serving soldier from 1936 - 45. I'll think of them both, but I'm glad they aren't still here in the Covid-19 situation.

Gosh, I can think of nothing worse than listening to Churchill speeches and Vera Lynn.....everyone to their own. Following on from the jingoistic flag waving, we can look forward to our very own latter day Churchill on Sunday as he addresses the nation. I am getting increasingly uncomfortable with the 'war' on the virus, the 'wartime' spirit and the comparisons. Be bloody spam next

I think the very fact that you can decide to celebrate/commemorate if you want to or sit in the quiet of your home and reflect if you want to is significant. The choice is yours. They fought (my dad included from age 18-26) and died so that we could be a free country and be allowed to make our own choices, rather than being told you WILL do this or that. Cherish that freedom and to each his own.

Dear Moth62. To anyone who is prepared to describe remembering VE Day and VJ Day as triumphalism or jingoism, may I suggest that before making your ill-informed and rather insulting comments you should talk to the servicemen and women who witnessed some of the worst horrors of WWII, like the doctor I knew who was among the first medics into Belsen and was so traumatised by what he saw that he rarely if ever talked about it, or to a British or Commonwealth soldier who had had to endure years of unimaginable brutality at the hands of the Japanese and yet survived, and then tell me that we should not feel a little triumphant at the knowledge that we had .played our part in ridding the world of two of the most evil regimes imaginable. I shall not be waving a flag or singing Vera Lynn songs, indoors or out, but I shall allow myself a moment of pride in what was achieved, admittedly at enormous cost.

Moth 22 - I forgot to say that I agree with everything you said

Surely one of the main points of celebrating VE Day nowadays is to stress that the countries of Europe must never fight among themselves again. And I'm not making a point about Brexit.

But spare me the street party.

I won't be participating it verges on the jingoistic It won't be a thing in this street either