The 75th anniversary of VE Day is a historic moment for our country. It is an opportunity to remember the heroism and sacrifice of the generation who served in the Second World War, whether in combat or on the home front. Their actions then secured our freedom today, so it is important that we remember them.
VE Day always makes me think of my father’s family. In 1938, my grandparents and my six-year-old father fled Czechoslovakia following the Nazi invasion. Dad grew up in here in England, knowing that many of his Jewish relatives had been murdered in the concentration camps.
VE Day – 8 May 1945 – marked the final defeat of the evil regime responsible. So, while today is a time for celebration, it’s also a sobering reminder of history’s darkest chapter.
I know that many Elmbridge residents will be disappointed that we cannot mark this important day in the way we would like to. Coronavirus remains one of the biggest challenges we have faced as a country in decades, so it is essential that we continue to follow the government guidance to stay at home. I think VE 75 also serves as an important reminder of what we have faced before, and that we can and will get through this pandemic by pulling together.
While coronavirus means that public events can no longer take place, the government has made plans to help people across the country remember and reflect. You can read about these plans here, and access resources to use at home here. Local residents may also be interested in Elmbridge Museum’s online exhibition, “Elmbridge at War: The Blitz in our Borough”.
For my part, in my role as Foreign Secretary, I’ll be marking the occasion with my counterparts around the world. You can watch my video message here.
