VE Day

An item from the organization formerly known as There But Not There.

Hello

Victory in Europe Day is generally known as VE Day in the UK and is a day celebrating the formal acceptance of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender of its armed forces on 8th May 1945. It was reported that Adolf Hitler, the Nazi leader, had committed suicide on 30th April and during the Battle of Berlin, Germany’s surrender was authorised by Adolf Hitler’s successor, Reichspräsident Karl Dönitz. The act of military surrender was first signed at 02:41 on 7th May in SHAEF HQ at Reims and a slightly modified document was signed on 8th May in Berlin.

Today, 8th May 2021 our nation is remembering VE day during another very difficult period for our country. We are remembering all those who served to win our peace, and all those who gave the greatest sacrifice for our freedom. This is a time when we are facing different threats. More than ever, it is good to remember we have been through difficult times before, and we did it by working together.

This year, Royal British Legion Industries has embarked on the biggest national campaign in its history of more than 100 years to mark VE Day.

Last year, all celebrations were scrapped; the public was left with no way to recognise the iconic 75th anniversary of victory in Europe. And although the inaugural Tommy in the Window campaign enabled the Great British public to commemorate this momentous date in our country’s history, those celebrations were sadly muted.

However, this year, we saw the nation galvanised as part of Tommy’s Race to Victory – a truly national event which has seen RBLI’s iconic Tommy figure travel the length of the UK, stopping at iconic military locations and cities on the way.

#TeamTommy are on their final day of their 800 mile relay between our social enterprises, Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company, in Erskine and Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company, in Kent. The Team are now only hours away from arriving at our Village in Aylesford to bring Tommy home for our VE Day celebrations.

On route, the team is stopping at cities and key military locations, presenting specially-made VE Day Tommy figures, made by injured veterans working in RBLI’s factories, to notable members of the local military communities.

You can find out more about the Relay, donate, and track #TeamTommy via our website.

TOMMYS RACE TO VICTORY RELAY

We will be posting a range of VE Day activities across our social media channels today – including #TeamTommy, Tommy’s Race to Victory Relay Team crossing the finishing line at RBLIs Village. Tune in to our Facebook live to show the team your support

Have a Great VE Day and Share your Celebrations with us!

From all of us at RBLI, we hope you have a great VE Day, and join us in celebrating a remarkable generation.

We would love to see how our supporters are celebrating, and our veterans would love to see your photos of their beautiful products in action.

Click the button below to share your images with us, the best ones may get featured on our social media…

SEND US YOUR PHOTOS

Help us mark VE Day and go the distance for our Tommie’s!

We are challenging the nation to stand together and show their support for the remarkable generation that won our victory.

Complete, 25km, 50km or 100km over the month of May – you can walk, run, wheel, cycle, scoot or even rollerblade your way through the distance.

It’s FREE to take part, all we ask is that you set up a fundraising page and share it with your friends and family. You also get a FREE Tommy’s Race to Victory technical t-shirt and fundraising pack posted out to you once you’ve set up your fundraiser. PLUS, anyone that hits the fundraising target will receive a limited edition challenge medal!

When?

Start your challenge anytime between now and 31st May

Where?

This event is virtual – you can take part from anywhere in the UK and get your miles in your local area!

TAKE PART

ORDER A TOMMY TEA BOX

Our mailing address is:

RBLI

Royal British Legion Industries Village

Hall Road

Aylesford, Kent ME20 7NL

United Kingdom

An item from our branch President, Comrade Fred Rutledge.

Good Morning!

Today marks the 75th Anniversary of V-E Day. Sadly with the COVID-19 issue we have not been able to commemorate FORTRESS SAN FRANCISCO as planned. As you can see from the article below, the rest of the world is keeping it low-key too.

Below are a couple of commemorative posters. You may be able to catch the Queen’s speech at 1300hrs our time on the internet.

Remember and commemorate! Be safe too.

Regards,
Fred Rutledge

Click to enlarge

LONDON (AP) — Europe was marking the 75th anniversary of the surrender of Nazi Germany to Allied forces following six years of war in a low-key fashion Friday due to coronavirus lockdown restrictions across the continent.

The big celebrations planned have been either cancelled or scaled back dramatically and people across Europe have been asked to mark the moment in private.

There will be no mass gatherings, no hugging or kissing, but that day of liberation is being remembered from Belfast to Berlin. For the few surviving World War II veterans, many living in nursing homes under virus lockdowns, it’s a particularly difficult time.

The “Victory in Europe” speech by Britain’s wartime prime minister, Winston Churchill, was broadcast on television. Queen Elizabeth II, at 94 a World War II veteran herself, will speak to the nation at 9 p.m., (1300hrs here) the exact time that her father, King George VI, addressed Britons 75 years ago.

Royal Canadian Legion, US Branch #25

San Francisco Bay Area

Tag Archives: VE Day

It’s VE DAY 🇬🇧🎉

Have a Great VE Day and Share your Celebrations with us!

Help us mark VE Day and go the distance for our Tommie’s!

When?

Where?

75th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day is today!