VE Day 2020

[PTR 444]

The 75th anniversary of VE day on May 8th was supposed to be one of this year's biggest events, with a parade scheduled to take place in London and the May Day bank holiday moved to that day, but as we know that has now been cancelled for obvious reasons and we are being asked to do another one of those "clap for" events from our windows to commemorate the heroes of WW2.

Covid-19, like the world wars, is another national emergency which would be deserving of a victory celebration once it has been beaten, so do you think it might be worth holding a massive victory parade even bigger than VE day once the pandemic has been eradicated?

 

[C J Snarzell]

I think that like the London marathon, the VE & the other bank holiday in May should be postponed until October. I cannot see us being out of the woods come next month so it's pointless having any sort of arrangements in place.

CJ

 

[scotrail158713]

I think that like the London marathon, the VE & the other bank holiday in May should be postponed until October. I cannot see us being out of the woods come next month so it's pointless having any sort of arrangements in place.

CJ

I tell you what - October is going to be one helluva busy month! Everything seems to be postponed until then.

 

[Domh245]

Covid-19, like the world wars, is another national emergency which would be deserving of a victory celebration once it has been beaten, so do you think it might be worth holding a massive victory parade even bigger than VE day once the pandemic has been eradicated?

Consensus seems to be that it won't be virus won't be eradicated so much as we adapt to living with it, either through vaccinations or herd immunity built up over many years. I wouldn't be sure about a celebration for 'beating it', but some sort of memorial for the people who've died and the people who've fought against it wouldn't go amiss!

I tell you what - October is going to be one helluva busy month! Everything seems to be postponed until then.

I was just thinking about that, albeit on a different (and completely off-topic) front. Goodwood's festival of speed has been postponed from early July to "late summer/early autumn", but seeing as most of the motorsports calendars around the world are getting compressed into whatever timeframe will be left between the lifting of the restrictions and the start of the next season, I'm not sure there'll actually be any free weekends when there isn't some sort of motorsport on, indeed there's already a few provisional clashes between big events all scheduled for the same weekends. It may be a bit of a quiet FOS with only a selection of retired cars and very few drivers, and I'm sure that there'll be similar situations across various different disciplines!

 

[Struner]

Having days off while you’re locked down seems somewhat silly? - so postpone them, or let them be postponed.
& the corona virus isn’t something that’s going to be “beaten”.
It’s something that humans will have to adapt to, one way or another.
People can have those days off when restrictions are lifted.
But what if it all flares up again after everybody has gone out to meet as many of their relatives & friends as possible?

 

[island]

As a pacifist I would rather not commemorate wars and violence in any way at all, but given that isn’t an option provided I chose the virtual CGI one.

 

[yorkie]

But what if it all flares up again after everybody has gone out to meet as many of their relatives & friends as possible?

let's stick to the actual topic as we already have numerous existing threads which already address your last question. There isn't much point in this thread duplicating such discussion.

I personally think it's too early to be sure of what the situation will be like by May the 8th though it's certain that large gatherings won't be possible and that social distancing measures will need to be in place.

 

[Ianno87]

I think that like the London marathon, the VE & the other bank holiday in May should be postponed until October. I cannot see us being out of the woods come next month so it's pointless having any sort of arrangements in place.

CJ

Having days off while you’re locked down seems somewhat silly? - so postpone them, or let them be postponed.
& the corona virus isn’t something that’s going to be “beaten”.
It’s something that humans will have to adapt to, one way or another.
People can have those days off when restrictions are lifted.
But what if it all flares up again after everybody has gone out to meet as many of their relatives & friends as possible?

I'm finding odd days off during lockdown absolutely essential to manage work and home life. As are countless others. Keep the Bank Holidays where they are.

Perhaps keeping it as-is will keep it rightly focused on being the commemmorative thanksgiving for a peaceful and united Europe that it should be, rather than grandiose flag-waving events.

 

[C J Snarzell]

I reckon any large gatherings of people will be restricted for sometime to come - so huge celebrations like VE Day will sadly not happen for the 75th anniversary. It maybe that the celebrations would have to be put back for the 80th anniversary in 2025. The sad thing about VE 75 was that it was earmarked especially for the elderly generation who were around during the Second World War including one or two of the old war heroes still with us. Because of their ages and health (aside from anything to do with Covid19) some of them won't be around in five years so VE 80 wouldn't have the same feel to it.

I would like to think that even when SOME restrictions are lifted, things like street parties & big social gatherings will be off limits for sometime. It would be interesting to see how the government approaches this - a church for example that would normally commemorate an occasion like VE Day is clearly out of bounds at present so when will people be allowed to enter an environment like this again?

CJ

 

[SamYeager]

Having days off while you’re locked down seems somewhat silly? - so postpone them, or let them be postponed.
& the corona virus isn’t something that’s going to be “beaten”.
It’s something that humans will have to adapt to, one way or another.
People can have those days off when restrictions are lifted.

Whilst many are not currently working there are also many who are still working be that at their workplace or at home who might appreciate a day off that they've probably been looking forward to.

As a pacifist I would rather not commemorate wars and violence in any way at all, but given that isn’t an option provided I chose the virtual CGI one.

Everyone's entitled to their views but I personally do not see the VE & VJ days as commenorating wars and violence but rather that they mark the formal end of the aggression of those countries initiating hostilities.

 

[Mojo]

My council was offering the removal of fees to request a road closure to allow for a VE Day street party.

Hopefully we could could perhaps be allowed to have a party combined with VE Day later in the summer (I know, not exactly street party season!)

 

[Tom B]

The persons who are working to maintain essential services are, by and large, those who do not get bank holidays off anyway, rather get it added to their A/L.

 

[HowardGWR]

My council was offering the removal of fees to request a road closure to allow for a VE Day street party.

Hopefully we could could perhaps be allowed to have a party combined with VE Day later in the summer (I know, not exactly street party season!)

Well, there's VJ Day.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Too early to say. Friday 8 May is still some weeks off so even if the government announce another 3 week lockdown in the coming days that would only take us to the start of that week, there's still a chance some restrictions could be lifted by 8 May.

 

[C J Snarzell]

Too early to say. Friday 8 May is still some weeks off so even if the government announce another 3 week lockdown in the coming days that would only take us to the start of that week, there's still a chance some restrictions could be lifted by 8 May.

Its definately to early to say - but even if the government implement the exit strategy on the 4th May there will be no way any VE celebration will be taking place (such as church services, marches, social gatherings) four days later. As & when the government does implement the exit strategy - it is going to be a very long process with some restrictions possibly being in place until 2021.

CJ

 

[thejuggler]

Well, there's VJ Day.

VE day should never have been celebrated to the extent it was planned, including moving the bank holiday.

The only recognition should be on the 75th anniversary of the actual end of the War in September 1945 to ensure those who weren't in Europe in May and still fighting and losing their lives in the Far East were also remembered.

 

[C J Snarzell]

VE day should never have been celebrated to the extent it was planned, including moving the bank holiday.

The only recognition should be on the 75th anniversary of the actual end of the War in September 1945 to ensure those who weren't in Europe in May and still fighting and losing their lives in the Far East were also remembered.

Defo

Hitler's suicide was around the 30th April 1945 but the Japanese forces didn't surrender until around the 12th September in Singapore. Many many lives were still being lost between May & September when VE day took place. Like you said, the final elements of the war weren't actually settled until September so I totally agree VE day is a little bit questionable.

CJ

 

[Domh245]

With no disrespect to the British and Colonial forces in the pacific theatre, Britain's war was primarily in the European theatre (as indeed were most of it's forces) - VE marked the end of the war for most Britons (and Europeans) so it's logical for that to be the major day of commemoration.

 

[Struner]

Too early to say. Friday 8 May is still some weeks off so even if the government announce another 3 week lockdown in the coming days that would only take us to the start of that week, there's still a chance some restrictions could be lifted by 8 May.

Dream on...

 

[6Gman]

Defo

Hitler's suicide was around the 30th April 1945 but the Japanese forces didn't surrender until around the 12th September in Singapore. Many many lives were still being lost between May & September when VE day took place. Like you said, the final elements of the war weren't actually settled until September so I totally agree VE day is a little bit questionable.

CJ

I did see an explanation of why they had opted for VE Day rather than VJ Day but I can't remember the details. I think it was to do with the availability of HM (who spends most of September on holiday in Scotland).

 

[yorkie]

Isn't it more likely because it was easy to swap the Bank Holiday from the Monday for the Friday?