VE Day in lockdown!

You will know that for this year, the May bank holiday was moved from Monday 4 May to Friday 8 May to commemorate VE Day, the 75th Anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe. Not only have all the public celebrations been cancelled, it may not feel like a time to celebrate as we battle through what has become to be known as the ‘invisible war’ of the coronavirus pandemic. VE Day is a significant anniversary in history and commemorations have now been moved to take place online. 

The Queen will address the nation to mark the official commemorations which will begin at 11am with a national moment of remembrance and a two-minute silence. It is estimated 55 million people lost their lives in what remains the deadliest military conflict in history.  In the absence of the wider planned events, we can still be involved during lockdown. Watch live on the main television channels or follow the live stream by going to the British Legion website here.

As part of the BBC broadcast of the 75th Anniversary commemorations, join in at 9pm as they feature a UK wide singalong of Vera Lynn’s song ‘We’ll Meet Again’.  The words of this song are so very poignant at this time and as we sing along in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of VE Day, we will also be singing these words for hope, for better days to come and an end to the coronavirus pandemic. 

To all St Martin’s students, we look forward to the day when we meet you all again!  

Visit the following websites for VE Day learning resources:

• Teaching Remembrance | Learning Resources
• Great British Bunting
• VE Day 75
• VE Day 75 | Remembrance Events
• VE Day: The experience of a Caribbean WW2 RAF veteran
  

Dame Vera Lynn used her 103rd birthday on 20 March 2020 to call on the British public to find "moments of joy" during these "hard times".  Watch the clip of Vera Lynn singing We’ll Meet Again! here

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The Royal Mail has produced a set of stamps to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of World War Two, based on archive photographs.  One features a 14-year-old Bette Williamson, now aged 90 who lives in Milton Keynes, she was celebrating in London on 8 May, 1945. The stamp is captioned Jubilant Public, 1945. Bette Williamson, behind the US flag said, “It’s amazing, I never thought I'd see my face on a stamp.”  Eight of the 12 new stamps depict scenes of celebration when news of the conflict's end was announced.  Now held by the Imperial War Museum, they were originally black and white, but have now been brought to life in colour. View all 12 stamps here.