Keeping alive the memories of WW2
(Top) Reverend John Bannister and Major Ray Devlin
June 2009 marked the 65th anniversary of the Normandy Landings by the Allies. This assault, together with other campaigns in NW Europe, southern France and Italy, would lead to the Liberation of France and ultimate Victory over the Axis Forces. While many people have a lot to be thankful for these events of WW2 – and there is much to celebrate – there was a price for Ultimate Victory.
A number of commemorative events were organised by the Normandy Veterans Association, the British Legion and others in France, Britain and elsewhere to mark the Normandy Landings of 1944. The above photographs show the commemorations on Saturday 6 June 2009 at the West Cumbria Normandy Veterans Memorial, St Nicholas’ Church Gardens, Whitehaven, Cumbria.
For additional information click on ‘Comments’ below.
posted by ritsonvaljos at 1:10 pm
1 Comments:
Additional information
With the passage of time, the commemorative events of June 2009 would also mark what is likely to have been the last ‘official’ events for the Normandy Veterans Association. As the men and women who served in that campaign and have personal memories of those times get fewer and fewer, the NVA has decided this would be the final time to meet in this way. A few days after the events in Normandy there was another memorial service and march past at the Whitehall Cenotaph.
The West Cumbria Branch of the Normandy Veterans Association laid up its standard in June 2008. Other local branches and the national association have done the same, or are in the process of doing so, in 2009.
It does not mean that people the memories of what happened in WW2 will be forgotten. However, any future events will be different. The events of June 2009 marked a ‘passing of the baton’ to the post-war generations. They are the ones who will help to keep alive the memories of the Second World War – both the events that took place, the causes of war, and what had to be done by many ordinary men and women to restore a degree of peace and freedom in the world.
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A personal comment:
Let us remember all the Veterans of the Second World War, and let every one of us live up to the sacrifices they made.
Thank you.
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