Celebrating VE Day

The VE Day anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on the enormous sacrifice, courage and determination of people from all walks of life during World War II.

This year marks the 75th year since the guns fell silent at the end of the war in Europe, and with the country on lockdown and all community and national events cancelled or postponed, it will be celebrated in a different, but no less special, way. Here are some ideas:

• Pause for a Two Minute Silence at 11.00am and watch stories and memories from those who served and sacrificed during the Second World War
• Join ‘The Nation’s Toast’ at 3.00pm – raise a glass with the nation to the heroes of WWII (broadcast starts at 2.45pm on BBC1)
• Watch the BBC’s special VE Day broadcasts, including extracts from Churchill’s famous victory speech and Her Majesty The Queen addressing the nation at 9pm
• Take part in a national singalong of Dame Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll meet again’
• Explore the digital book collection and selected online resources curated by Libraries Unlimited, who provide library services in Devon
• Take part in historian Dan Snow’s VE Day challenge.
• English Heritage has created a ‘history at home’ pack which includes recipes, dance steps and popular songs from the time as well as facts about VE Day and pictures.
• Royal British Legion has an online learning pack to explore the history of VE day as a family as well as a live stream event and an opportunity to leave your own message of thanks on their online message board.
• Visit the government’s VE Day 75 website for a toolkit of resources including bunting and posters to print and display, learn about the history of WWII and find out more about how the nation can celebrate from home.