Reflect, rejoice and remember: How you can commemorate VE and VJ Day 80
The 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ Day will be marked this year with a series of events and celebrations to ensure the sacrifices of the Second World War generation aren't forgotten.
Victory in Europe Day, celebrated on 8 May, this year marks the 80th anniversary of the Allied victory in Europe, when millions of men, women and children rejoiced with street parties and other events to commemorate the end of the war.
Even the future Queen, Elizabeth II, joined the excited crowds outside Buckingham Palace, later saying: "I think it was one of the most memorable nights of my life."
Ruth Bourne, 98, a member of the Women's Royal Naval Service working as a link in the chain of codebreakers who intercepted Nazi messages at Bletchley Park, said: "There was an electric buzz among everyone.
"Eventually, the royals came out and waved, and we cheered like crazy, waving whatever we had on us.
"People climbed on every available lamppost, lit bonfires in Hyde Park, and we sat around singing songs.
"Not many went to bed that night."
While many celebrated the end of war in Europe, thousands of Armed Forces personnel from across the Commonwealth and Allied nations were still engaged in fierce fighting in the Far East.
The war there did not end until 15 August 1945 and was marked with VJ Day – Victory over Japan.
This year's commemorations will pay tribute to the millions of people across the UK and the Commonwealth who served in the Second World War, telling the stories of those who fought, the children who were evacuated and those who stepped into essential roles on the Home Front.
Defence Secretary John Healey said: "Eighty years ago, the freedoms we enjoy today were defended by our remarkable Second World War generation.
"Our duty today is to safeguard the British values they sacrificed so much to uphold.
"As we mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War, our grateful nation looks forward to joining our brave Armed Forces and veterans to reflect, rejoice and remember."
The early May Bank Holiday on 5 May will see the beginning of celebrations marking VE and VJ Day 80.
The series of planned events includes a military procession and flypast of current and historic military aircraft, the return of the poppies to the Tower of London and a nationwide call for families to delve into their lofts and discover their own Second World War stories.
Monday 5 May
To ensure the commemorations act as a point of remembrance of the millions who lost their lives in the conflict as well as a celebration of peace, the commemorations will begin in Whitehall.
The Cenotaph, the nation's focal point of remembrance, will be dressed in Union Flags for the duration of the four-day commemorations, echoing the 1920 unveiling of the monument to the fallen.
From Monday 5 May, it will provide a focal point for the commemorations and a place to pay silent tribute to all those who died, both at home and abroad, during the Second World War.
There will be a military procession from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace followed by a flypast of current and historic military aircraft, including the Red Arrows.
The VE Day 80 commemorations will continue with a party on HMS Belfast.
The Town-class light cruiser fired some of the opening shots on D-Day in 1944, protected Arctic convoys and is the most significant surviving warship of the Second World War.
Street parties, barbecues and community gatherings, supported by ideas and inspiration from The Together Coalition and The Big Lunch, will be held by communities across the country, echoing the celebrations 80 years ago as the population welcomed the end of the war.
Tuesday 6 May
An installation of ceramic poppies will return to the Tower of London to mark the anniversary.
Nearly 30,000 of the original poppies from the 2014 display at the Tower, which commemorated the centenary of the First World War, will be displayed in a new installation within the walls of the fortress.
This new poppy installation will resemble a "wound' at the heart of the Tower, which was bombed during the Blitz and still bears some of those scars today.
In addition, historic landmarks across the UK will be lit up.
Wednesday 7 May
On the evening of 7 May 1945, a newsflash announced that the following day would be Victory in Europe Day.
To commemorate this important moment in the nation's history, the Parliament Choir will host a Victory in Europe Day Anniversary Concert in the famous Westminster Hall at the Palace of Westminster, 80 years to the day that victory was declared.
Thursday 8 May
A service will take place at Westminster Abbey which will be both an act of shared remembrance and a celebration of the end of the Second World War.
It will be a moment to give thanks and to honour a generation that showed extraordinary courage and resilience.
The events will conclude with a concert at Horse Guards Parade to finish the VE Day 80 commemorations in a celebratory tone.
With more than 10,000 members of the public in attendance, the concert will feature stars of stage and screen plus military musicians and tell the story of victory and the legacy of the Second World War in Europe.
Friday 15 August
To mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the war in the Far East, a service will take place at the National Memorial Arboretum.
In partnership with the Government, the Royal British Legion will lead the nation in honouring and remembering those who fought and died fighting the Japanese.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "The 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ Day are important opportunities for communities to come together to pay tribute to all those who served in the Second World War and to reflect on the values that they were fighting for.
"By taking part in these significant commemorations, people across society will be able to hear our veterans' stories firsthand, to reflect and remember and ensure that their stories of sacrifice and service are remembered for generations to come."
Letters to Loved Ones
In partnership with Imperial War Museums (IWM), Letters to Loved Ones will encourage the public to delve into their family history to find letters sent by their relatives during the Second World War.
It is hoped this will bring together first-hand testimonies from soldiers on the frontline and the women and children on the home front.
Letters to Loved Ones will culminate in an event in May, bringing together school children and their families from across the UK.
IWM director general Caro Howell said: "As we mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War, we are reminded that this devastating conflict will soon pass from living memory.
"Through Letters to Loved Ones, we want a new generation of children across the UK to learn about the Second World War and its aftermath, through the stories and memories of their own families and the voices of those who were part of the fight against tyranny."
From April through 2025, Arts Council England will work with arts organisations to join with their communities and creatively commemorate, celebrate and reflect on the 80th anniversary of VE and VJ Day.
Funding will also be made available through the National Lottery Community Fund Awards for organisations to bid for grants to host events, activities and projects this year.
How can children get involved?
Resources and educational material will be made available for schools and youth groups to help young people learn about the Second World War and the importance of the role played by their forebearers in securing the peace we enjoy today.
The Royal British Legion, the nation's largest military charity, will be making resources available for schools and local communities across the country and working through its network of membership branches to mark the anniversary.
Dr Tara Knights, the RBL's head of remembrance, said: "The Royal British Legion is proud to be marking the 80th anniversaries of VE Day and VJ Day and will put Second World War veterans at the heart of these commemorations.
"These are significant anniversaries and we owe it to all those from the Second World War generation to thank them for their bravery and sacrifice in the defence of freedoms we still enjoy to this day."
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