Commemorations begin today to mark the eightieth anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. A military procession will leave Parliament Square and head to Buckingham Palace – the start of four days of events that culminate on Thursday, actual VE Day, with a service of thanksgiving from Westminster Abbey.
Britain’s military top brass will be out in force, laying wreaths at memorials and talking in grave tones about the courage and sacrifice of the Second World War generation.
This generation was ethnically diverse, as highlighted in the set of commemorative stamps released by Royal Mail to mark VE Day. A recent poll found that 86% of the British public agree that the nation should ‘commemorate all those who fought for Britain in the World Wars, regardless of where they came from’. Only 3% disagreed.
Britain’s armed forces have long been diverse – a fact that appears to have eluded the top brass in recent years.
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