VE Day 75th Anniversary Celebrations Go Virtual
April 30, 2020
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council is encouraging its residents to join in with its array of virtual VE Day 75 celebrations from Friday 8th May to Sunday 10th May.
The council’s plans to celebrate the guns falling silent to mark the end of the Second World War in Europe 75 years ago changed because of the current global pandemic that is taking the lives of thousands at this time.
The Mayor, Councillor Alan Givan, speaking about the upcoming virtual celebrations said: “As a council we are always for the community to celebrate historic milestones; and we want to be sure that our residents have an opportunity to pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of the entire Second World War generation. Our initial plans of VE Day 75 themed street parties and a Mayor’s Parade and Family Fun Day have now become virtual celebrations on our corporate social media channels. We hope that all Lisburn Castlereagh communities and generations will join with us.
“On Friday 8th May online you can watch the council alongside the Royal British Legion lay a wreath at the Lisburn War Memorial and hold a two minute silence to remember the fallen at 11am. If you are in our city centre buying essential items, you will hear the music of the 30s and 40s along Bow Street. Just before 3pm, you can view our virtual itinerary of the Last Post, a two-minute silence, the Reveille, a piper will lead us into the national toast with The Battles O’er; and I hope that all our residents will raise a glass alongside their families, their neighbours and me. All our celebrations of this poignant occasion will be promoted on our website so please check it out.”
The Royal British Legion (RBL) nationally and regionally is playing a central role in the VE Day 75 celebrations. Following the 11am, Silence RBL is hosting a VE Day live stream, sharing stories and memories from those who served and sacrificed during the Second World War. It will be live from 11.15am on the Legion’s website www.rbl.org.uk/veday75
Alderman James Tinsley, Leisure & Community Development Committee Chairman added: “History is an important part of everyone’s lives and we would like our community as a whole to celebrate this historic milestone. We had planned to provide grant funding to local groups to celebrate within their communities but unfortunately due to no large gatherings and social distancing it was necessary to cancel this initiative.
“The Second World War was the deadliest military conflict in history and some 75 million people died during it. This included about 20 million military personnel and 40 million civilians, many of whom died because of deliberate genocide, massacres, mass-bombings, disease, and starvation. We lost 388,700 British and Irish military personnel in this battle; and we must remember these brave individuals during our virtual VE Day 75 celebrations.
“Our Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum will play a key role in bringing our history into our homes with their virtual VE75 exhibition. It will use artefacts, photographs and primary material from its archives to outline the themes of Pre-war Life in Lisburn, War! The Causes, At War, The Economy, The Home Front, Victory in Europe and After the War: When the Dust Settles. I hope everyone logs onto our social media channels to enjoy this exhibition.”
The Union Flag will fly at Lagan Valley Island from 8th-10th May inclusive to mark this weekend of remembrance and thanksgiving for the Second World War generation. Over this weekend our Civic Headquarters, Castle Gardens and the Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum will be lit up blue in memory of the fallen.
You can view more information on the weekend’s commemoration virtual events online at www.lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk/virtualVE75
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