VE Day “celebrations”

It has never, ever, been about celebrating war.

What some people don't seem to understand is that it is celebrating peace.

The services that are held annually are to give thanks and to pray for peace.

There's going to be a lot of pursed lips and disapproving looks from some people today, judging from some comments. But that's fine, we can each spend the day exactly as we wish; sit and contemplate the occasion or socialise at a safe distance with our neighbours. But I wonder if those who are so disapproving on the 75th Anniversary were similarly disapproving on the 50th anniversary when there were street parties and a national bank holiday?

VE Day is celebrated across Western European states on 8 May, with several countries observing public holidays on the day each year, variously called Victory Over Fascism Day, Liberation Day or simply Victory Day. Russia, Belarus, and Serbia celebrate on 9 May, as do several former Soviet bloc countries. It is a national holiday in France known as 'Victoire 1945' or 'La fête de la victoire' and the day is also celebrated as a holiday in several other countries in Europe.

I have never seen a street party in my area of Scotland for any war related event or royal anniversary .Maybe because many here were family of the 51st (Scottish) Division who were basically left to die on the beach at Dunkirk .That'll be the reason or one of them men used to spit on the street if Churchills name was mentioned .
It was a different war for many people ,commemorate dont celebrate

My BIL lived in Berlin during the war and is still traumatised by some of the things he saw.
He was out looking for bread with his mother when the Russians marched into their street, they had to hide in a cellar. I suspect some of his health issues date back to his deprived childhood.
I have friends on FB who see today as a chance for a booze up in the garden with neighbours.

I'm not that excited about celebrating VE day either. I just think of my poor grandparents frantic with worry about my dad still in Burma fighting the murderous cruel Japanese. Not sure why the celebrations weren't delayed until all the war was over.

Will we have a bank holiday on VJ Day though?

My uncle was a POW held in Japan near Nagasaki. In fact he saw the bomb go off.

Rescued by the Americans and taken aboard a hospital ship to cross the Pacific and then Canada where they were welcomed and celebrated.

He spent the rest of his life as a pacifist.

My Dad would never have a Japanese car. He didn't talk about his time in Burma. My great uncle returned home a walking skeleton after internment in a Japanese camp. Many didn't.

My Dad left the UK in February 1941 aged 24 just 2 weeks after marrying my Mum. He returned home more than 5 years later in March 1946, so obviously didn't take part in the VE day celebrations although my Mum who worked in London throughout the war, did, with relish. They both loved a party and were they here today they'd be out, remembering, but also celebrating. So, I shall be out with the neighbours this afternoon, raising a glass to them and all the others; remembering & celebrating

Sussexborn ?well said ‘ nobody will be forced out onto the streets by a rifle’.....
Those service men and women died in the pursuit of our liberties and freedom.
The small group of houses where I live all have red white and blue bunting, it looks great and neighbours have all been out greeting each other ( social distancing.)

I well remember the VE day street party in our little avenue of 12 terraced houses. A huge feeling of relief, a bonfire in the unmetalled road, a piano rolled out, singing and dancing, everyone smiling, flags and bunting from King George VI’s coronation hung from windows. At 5 I thought life would always be like this and that my father and uncles would be home in a week or so!!
Today I’m thinking of how glad they must have been that peace had come at last. My uncle had gone out at 18, To Palestine as mounted cavalry. His early letters said how he found the evening horse lines the best part of his day and talked to his horse as if to a brother or sister.
Soon he and his comrades were in tanks and many died at El Alamein. Today I am not celebrating but commemorating the service and sacrifice of my uncle and countless others. Veterans of WWII are fewer each year. I’ll sit in my front garden and remember them. I shall also having contact with my neighbours.
Whitewavemark2 - when a grandchild, at 10, said war seemed pointless I told her my uncle would have agreed with her.

Vegansrock - will you not be thinking of how your father would have felt when the message came through that thwar in Europe was over?
As a child I was disappointed that there was no VJ Day street party, just an announcement and a renewed feeling of relief from the adults.

To me WWII was a war against Nazism and fascism and it horrifies me that right wing organisations seem to be gaining popularity again; we must always be on our guard against that. It must have been wonderful 75 years ago; like a lot of people of my age I so wish I'd asked my mum more about the war years. Books like Can Any Mother Help Me and Melvyn Braggs Speak for England can tell me what life was like back then but I so wish I knew more about my mum's life during the war .

I've made scones and a war recipe cake and put up some bunting. We will have tea and scones in the garden and remember my dad (and those like him) away for long years serving his country and my mum who waited and worried. We mustn't forget what they experienced and always celebrate the value of peace.

I was born in 1936 and my Dad was away in the Navy for most of WW2. We lived with my grandparents and I have many memories of those years.
But I can't remember him returning, or VE day parties, or VJ day.
I've been watching this series on BBC iplayerwhich is very good and brought back some memories:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b05wdp6g/britains-greatest-generation-3-fight-for-freedom
Eldest daughter, now aged 53, rang to say they were watching it and they had no idea that all this had happened.

ps the old lady we visit kept talking about being in the WAAF in WW2. My friend, late 60s , didnt know what the WAAF was.

We've had music blaring away outside all day and now there's karaoke [I assume everyone is using the same microphone ]. I've so enjoyed gardening in the sunshine during lockdown with just the sound of the birds singing. People sitting close to each other; certainly not 6 feet apart. There's bound to be an increase in infection rates over the coming fortnight. I really don't see what Katy Perry has got to do with WWII.....

Bread and circuses?
A nice distraction I suppose.

What a shame that your day has been spoiled Maybee. It's been much more sedate and pleasant in our neighbourhood today. Everyone stood on the doorstep at 11 o'clock for the 2 minutes silence and then at 2 o'clock families pitched up their picnic tables and chairs on the front lawns. Neighbours chatted with each other, and passers by, at safe distances and the atmosphere was lovely and friendly. Some houses had their Amazon Echo or Alexa playing 1940s music and we all listened to Churchill's speech. It's been a lovely friendly day and I've chatted to neighbours I've never had the chance to speak to before. Very glad we took part in it.

We also had a lovely afternoon chatting over the front wall to lots of neighbours. Many wore red, white and blue clothes, as did I. Many were over 80, and enjoyed talking about the original VE Day.

Sad to reflect how many of the residents of Care Homes would have been remembering the actual VE Day themselves had they been remembered when this virus struck.

How many ‘heroes’ passed away unnoticed and unsung recently I wonder?

To be fair, the children in the street had a fun day, which is nice for them. But a lot of my neighbours are very high risk and everyone was far too close to each other.

I have been conflicted all day - and more than a little tearful.

Where is the 'peace' that was so hard won? All day that question has been nagging me. Since the end of World War II, there have been 7,190 UK armed forces personnel who have died as a result of military operations - and one of those statistics was a vibrant, funny, witty, 26 year old who was a son, a brother, a beloved husband - and a father to my newly born grandson. Every moment of the day I have been conscious of the many like him, the ones who didn't come home.

At the same time I understand the desire to commemorate the beginning of the end of one of the most painful periods in history and to imagine the relief families felt when finally they could let themselves believe that their loved ones would come home, if they weren't already.

I do believe that fostering a warm community spirit - especially in the current circumstances - is beneficial, but today I just couldn't bring myself to take part in any of the planned activities. I went instead to sit (socially distanced) in the garden of my parents-in-law's home and listened to them tell me their memories of the war and VE Day.

I sat in my front garden with my tea. No one else did but I chatted to several neighbours who were passing by or gardening.

I think it was right to celebrate/remember/ have thoughts on
( whichever you like) VE Day, 75 years ago, in whatever way we all wanted to do it, noisily or quietly.
Here are some cakes my DGC made ?