Friday 8 May is the 75th anniversary of VE Day, the day the Second World War in Europe officially ended. As we face some of the most challenging times since the end of the war, now more th...
Friday 8 May is the 75th anniversary of VE Day, the day the Second World War in Europe officially ended.
As we face some of the most challenging times since the end of the war, now more than ever it is important to come together and unite as a county and a nation. Thankfully, there are many ways we can join each other to celebrate, whilst staying safe at home.
VE Day may look very different to what many had planned, but here are ten ideas on how you can commemorate and celebrate the day from home:
- Read about some of the incredible stories from the people who lived through VE Day.
- Show recognition and support for veterans by displaying pictures of World War II soldiers in your windows.
- Join the nation at 11:00 for two-minute silence and a moment of remembrance to show thanks to the inspiring Second World War generation.
- Warwickshire Heritage & Culture will be sharing a family activity – ‘Make Do and Mend Junk Modelling’ on their website. Challenge your resourcefulness and see what you can make out of recycled materials to decorate your home.
- School caterers, Educaterers, are sharing daily recipes for families to recreate school lunches at home, so dust off your baking trays as to celebrate VE Day, Educaterers has shared its recipe for Dig for Victory Carrot Cookies. These sweet treats would have been a wartime favourite, using carrots grown in the garden or allotment with sugar and margarine from weekly rations.
- Get your children to discover their creative side by making VE Day bunting or taking part in games produced by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
- Tune into BBC One at 2.45pm to watch a special programme showing extracts from Churchill’s victory speech to the nation announcing the end of the war in Europe. At 3.00pm people are encouraged to stand up and raise a glass in a national toast saying: “To those who gave so much, we thank you.”
- Read some wartime fiction and non-fiction on the BorrowBox app where Warwickshire Libraries has put together a special collection to commemorate VE Day.
- Join the Royal British Legion at 9pm on BBC One for a UK-wide singalong of Dame Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll Meet Again’ to show thanks and celebrate. If you need some singing inspiration, a host of celebrities have shared their renditions of the WW2 anthem.
- The indoor celebrations don’t have to end on Friday! Warwick Racecourse is holding a Victory in Europe Fantasy Champion Hurdle, raising money for the Royal British Legion. The fantasy race will be a field of 13 fictional horses competing, going live on their Facebook page from 7pm on Saturday 9 May.
Don’t forget to share your #VEDay75 activities on social media and tag #BestWarwickshire in your posts so we can all see how the county is celebrating!
And finally, watch an important VE Day message from Mr Timothy Cox, Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire as he asks the county to ‘celebrate at home.’