VE DAY 80

The United Kingdom is commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day with a series of national events from 5th May – 8th May – VE Day. Communities across Surrey will honour the end of World War II in Europe and pay tribute to the sacrifices made by an heroic generation. There are services, street parties, beacons, and community events taking place across the county through to 11th May – we urge everyone to enjoy them and to get involved.

Thursday 8th of May is the 80th Anniversary of VE Day, it was not the end of the Second World War, that came over 3 months later with the surrender of Japan on 15th August 1945. For Europe, VE Day marked the end of almost 6 years of fear, grief and suffering the unspeakable cruelties of war. A national holiday was declared in the UK on the 8th May 1945. Collective relief and gratitude brought celebrations spilling on to the streets in every city, town and village across our country. Along with celebration there was profound thanksgiving and reflection; remembering all those who lost their lives fighting for freedom and for families and communities to gather their suffering and look towards a future with the prospect of peace in Europe.

Why is it important that 80 years on we should remember and mark these terrifying events of war, and how is it relevant to us today?

The 80th Anniversary of VE Day has a wider context than simply remembering and giving thanks for an increasingly distant past. It is, of course, to a time to treasure peace and freedom, but it is also moment to reflect upon the meaning of war. War is failure; it is a terrible indictment of our humanity and our inability to rise above the evils of greed, cruelty and hatred.

Anniversaries give us pause to remember and give thanks for those, both in our armed forces and civilians, who sacrificed so much for future generations. As we do so we may reflect upon the rare privilege of living through an unparalleled period of peace in Europe, save some notable and hideous exceptions such as Bosnia in the 1990s and now in Ukraine.

This privilege has led us to believe that peace is a normal condition for our existence. In recent years, however, the world has become more unstable, more intolerant and threatening so that peace can no longer be taken for granted.

As communities and individuals, we cannot afford to be complacent in our commitment to our armed forces nor in our respect for the law, reverence for truth, and in our treatment, tolerance and care for one another and those who join our communities. Surrey has a rich military past which remains very much present and active today. Let us celebrate the peace and freedoms we were given 80 years ago and do all we can to consider our individual and communal responsibilities and the sacrifices we may yet need to make in order to have peace and freedom for our children and grandchildren.

The Lieutenancy will be participating in community events across the county. Please look to community notice boards, social media and Visit Surrey https://www.visitsurrey.com/whats-on/   to see the many events which are taking place across the county and to take part.

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