Plans to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day have had to be altered as result of the coronavirus outbreak.
However, the UK Government have said that the revised programme ‘will ensure a fitting tribute to the greatest generation’. The traditional Early May Bank Holiday had been moved from the 4th May to the 8th May to allow people to celebrate the anniversary.
A selection of tea parties, flypasts, parades and services were originally planned. However, due to social distancing measures, these events can no longer happen.
Instead, new events have been planned to ensure the day does not go unmarked. These include:
- Two minutes’ silence at 11am on the 8th May.
- An address to the nation by Her Majesty The Queen.
- Special broadcasts of Sir Winston Churchill’s famous victory speech and other BBC programming.
- A national singalong of Dame Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll Meet Again’.
- Daily history lessons for children throughout the anniversary week by the historian Dan Snow.
- Members of The Royal Family, the Prime Minister and NHS volunteers will be calling WWII veterans to than them and hear their experiences.
Local MP, John Lamont, has welcomed that many events can still go ahead.
John Lamont MP commented: “Unfortunately, the original plans to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day will not go ahead. This is the right decision in these challenging circumstances.
“I know that there will be a number of disappointed people who will not be able to attend events across the Borders. For one, I know that many were looking forward to the events planned in my hometown of Coldstream.
“However, these new plans to mark the day will ensure that the sacrifices and efforts of all those alive during the Second World War will not be forgotten. I hope that many Borderers will feel able to participate in some of the planned events.”
