Commemorating VE Day 80th Anniversary
Hedge End Town Council marked the 80th Anniversary of VE Day with a flag raising ceremony to honour the bravery and sacrifice of those who fought for our freedom.
Vice-Chair Cllr. Ron Nichols read the VE Day 80 Proclamation and Cllr. Helen Corben, who was 11 years old on VE Day and lost her father in the war when the Cunliffe-Owen Aircraft Factory in Southampton was bombed, spoke of her memories of the end of the war in Europe.
Cllr. Helen Corben raised the specially-commissioned flag outside the 2000 Centre, the home of Hedge End Town Council. It will remain in place for the day.
VE Day 80 Proclamation
Eighty years ago today, the United Kingdom and its allies from around the globe celebrated VE Day – the end of the war in Europe.
Today as we come together to commemorate what came to be known as VE Day, our thoughts turn to thanksgiving and remembrance of the millions of people who gave so much to achieve the freedom we all enjoy today.
We remember those we lost, those who were wounded or scarred, those whose lives were forever changed by war. Nobody was immune from the impact of that terrible conflict.
Let us pause to remember their sacrifice.
We reflect too upon the words of our late and glorious Queen Elizabeth the second – “Never Give Up, Never Despair”.
And so we offer thanksgiving for the selflessness of those who gave up so much, in order that future generations should enjoy the blessings of freedom, democracy and peace.
God Save the King.