The Legion calls on VE Day veterans to play part in national commemorations
The Royal British Legion will join the nation in marking the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) over the weekend of 8-10 May. A series of national commemorative events will take place in London, and community events and celebrations are being organised across the country.
The Second World War generation will be at the heart of all activity. As part of this, the Legion is calling out to veterans of VE Day, who would like to take part in the national commemorations in London. To ensure representation across all those who played an active role during the Second World War, the invitation is for those who served in the military, the Home Guard or in any one of the reserved occupations, including medics, police and the “Bevan Boys”.
All veterans will be allowed to be accompanied by a nominated carer. An online registration site is now live and the closing date for all applications is midnight on Friday 10 April: www.britishlegion.org.uk/ve70vets. Telephone enquiries regarding registration can be made via 0808 802 8080.
Places will be available for a series of commemorative events over the weekend:
On Friday 8 May, a Service of Remembrance will be held at the Cenotaph.
On Sunday 10 May, there will a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey, followed by a march from the Abbey to Horse Guards Parade and into St James’s Park, where the Legion will host a lunch reception.
Funding for travel will be made available for successfully accredited veterans and their carer to come to London. Further details will be provided to veterans as soon as their application has been confirmed.
Those preferring to attend something closer to home or – due to the limited number of spaces – are unsuccessful in their application for the national commemorative events will be welcomed at celebrations across the country as VIPS. Details of which can be found on Government website www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/ve-day-70th-anniversary, local government websites and on the Legion’s VE Day microsite www.veday.org.uk.
Vice Admiral Peter Wilkinson CB CVO, National President of The Royal British Legion, said: “The commemoration of this conflict, still in living memory, gives us the opportunity to salute the Second World War generation. We hope that all communities will use the VE Day 70 commemorations to thank them and celebrate the role they played in our nation’s history.”