Royal British Legion calls on Second World War veterans to sign up for 80th anniversary events
The Royal British Legion is making an appeal to Second World War veterans to come forward for special commemorations of the 80th anniversaries of VE Day and VJ Day this year.
VE Day, marking Victory in Europe, occurred on May 8, 1945, whilst VJ Day, which signalled the end to hostilities with Japan, was celebrated on August 15, 1945. Major remembrance events will pay tribute to the collective endeavours of Allied forces comprised of personnel from Britain, the Commonwealth, and allies worldwide, according to the organisation.
Veterans from the Second World War period, or their family members and carers, are invited to register via the Legion’s website to participate in both national and local commemorative activities. Last year marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day, with a series of commemorations held that saw Royal family members, politicians, and the public gathered at Normandy, the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, and various locations across the nation.
Events included a group of 21 veterans revisiting the sands of Normandy in June and 26 taking part in a memorial service at the Arboretum. The Royal British Legion is rallying the nation to unite once more for the VE Day and VJ Day commemorations set for 2025, honouring those who took part in the conflict.
Philippa Rawlinson, director of remembrance at the charity, said: “These incredibly poignant occasions marking the 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ Day are now likely to be our last opportunities to come together as a nation with veterans of the Second World War to pay tribute to their bravery and to those who made the ultimate sacrifice and lost their lives.
“Everyone in modern Britain will somehow have a connection to those who experienced the war, either through their family or community heritage. It’s important we mark these anniversaries with commemorations in communities across the UK and with national moments to thank our armed forces veterans, without whom the way of life we enjoy today would not have been possible.
“We are inviting all those who served in the Second World War with British and Commonwealth armed forces to register with us, so that we can share their wartime experiences and sometimes ‘forgotten stories’ and ensure the significance of their contribution in shaping our world today is always remembered.”
The call extends to all individuals who served with British and Commonwealth forces during WWII, which includes the staggering six million personnel from the Commonwealth. Over one million served in the Far East, while others served in the Middle East, North Africa, and throughout Europe.
Registration is now open for the commemorative events marking VE Day 80 and VJ Day 80, inviting surviving British and Commonwealth armed forces veterans, as well as those who contributed to the war effort. This includes munitions workers, those conscripted back home, from reservist occupations and in the Special Operations Executive.
Registered individuals will be kept informed of the commemorative plans and invited to attend local and national events. VE Day 80 is expected to mirror the spontaneous street parties that erupted across the nation, while VJ Day 80 will commemorate the end of six years of conflict in the Second World War.