May 8 2008......V E Day +63 years
Hyack @ Thu May 08, 2008 8:43 pm
I kind of expected to see something about this in the news, but I guess 63 years is beyond the memory of most Canadians.
[align=center][web]http://hearitnow.umd.edu/1945.htm[/web][/align]
martin14 @ Thu May 08, 2008 9:13 pm
yep, such a lively conversation here...
well, not to worry, nobody in Western Europe seems to give a damn either.
In the East, it is still a national holiday, but there is no
official anything anymore...
the memory of the people is too short, and we are dommed to repeat the
mistakes of history if we cannot remember and learn.....
Brenda @ Thu May 08, 2008 9:16 pm
Holland has Remembrance Day on May 4th, and Liberation Day on May 5th. May 8th has never been a special day.
travior @ Thu May 08, 2008 9:33 pm
Most Americans cannot remember past 63 seconds, much less 63 years. And with this being my primary source of news (scary, eh?) thanks for the reminder of the things we should be thankful for.
Jovan @ Thu May 08, 2008 11:14 pm
We had a march at the Kingsway Branch #175, Royal Canadian Legion this evening to commemorate the day and to honour the fallen. We sang the National and Royal Anthems, recited the Ode of Remembrance, and laid wreaths on the Cenotaph. We had representatives of the various service organisations, the Cadets, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Her Majesty's Canadian Forces in the march and then, being Canadian, we had a few drinks in memory of those gone before.
Regina @ Fri May 09, 2008 10:23 am
May 8th is the day Germany officially surrendered. All involved in the fight knew the war was over and just tried not to get killed during that last weeks. One of the guys I know described that day in London as wild. He was a Lt. Colonel who had been sent back to London from the front that day. Him and another officer had just checked into the Ritz Hotel, which was full. They lied about being on Eisenhower's staff so they could get a room and got one of the best rooms they had reserved for him.
They were in their room relaxing when noise on the street became deafening. He went down stairs to find out what was going on and when he stepped outside the hotel he was immediately picked up and drawn into the crowd. He said his feet never touched the ground again till he hit Piccadilly Circus, which is quite a distance. He then fought his way back to the hotel, and after a few hours got there. I asked him why he didn't stay and enjoy the moment. He replied: "After that many years all I wanted to do was sleep."
Others I know who were at front still getting shot at said when it was official they also just wanted to sleep. Another common remark was "Thank Christ" .........…. and there was no party.
Freakinoldguy @ Fri May 09, 2008 10:58 am
Jovan Jovan:
We had a march at the Kingsway Branch #175, Royal Canadian Legion this evening to commemorate the day and to honour the fallen. We sang the National and Royal Anthems, recited the Ode of Remembrance, and laid wreaths on the Cenotaph. We had representatives of the various service organisations, the Cadets, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Her Majesty's Canadian Forces in the march and then, being Canadian, we had a few drinks in memory of those gone before.
Nice to see someone can still do things right.
SprCForr @ Fri May 09, 2008 11:47 am
I greeted every troop I saw, every call I made and every e-mail I sent yesterday with a "Happy VE day." They all to a man knew exactly what I was refering to. A pretty big day for that generation.
Regina @ Wed May 14, 2008 8:04 pm
Regina Regina:
May 8th is the day Germany officially surrendered. All involved in the fight knew the war was over and just tried not to get killed during that last weeks. One of the guys I know described that day in London as wild. He was a Lt. Colonel who had been sent back to London from the front that day. Him and another officer had just checked into the Ritz Hotel, which was full. They lied about being on Eisenhower's staff so they could get a room and got one of the best rooms they had reserved for him.
They were in their room relaxing when noise on the street became deafening. He went down stairs to find out what was going on and when he stepped outside the hotel he was immediately picked up and drawn into the crowd. He said his feet never touched the ground again till he hit Piccadilly Circus, which is quite a distance. He then fought his way back to the hotel, and after a few hours got there. I asked him why he didn't stay and enjoy the moment. He replied: "After that many years all I wanted to do was sleep."
Others I know who were at front still getting shot at said when it was official they also just wanted to sleep. Another common remark was "Thank Christ" .........…. and there was no party.
They were in their room relaxing when noise on the street became deafening. He went down stairs to find out what was going on and when he stepped outside the hotel he was immediately picked up and drawn into the crowd. He said his feet never touched the ground again till he hit Piccadilly Circus, which is quite a distance. He then fought his way back to the hotel, and after a few hours got there. I asked him why he didn't stay and enjoy the moment. He replied: "After that many years all I wanted to do was sleep."
Others I know who were at front still getting shot at said when it was official they also just wanted to sleep. Another common remark was "Thank Christ" .........…. and there was no party.
A sad update to my story. This was the man I wrote about.
LIEUT COL. Gordon Brown, DSO, MID, Netherlands Bronze Lion
http://www.legacy.com/CAN-Regina/Obitua ... =109679862
http://www.wlu.ca/lcmsds/book%20sales/n ... /0029.html
SprCForr @ Wed May 14, 2008 8:06 pm
RiP
Regina @ Sat May 17, 2008 1:04 pm
More recent articles on Gordon Brown.
http://communities.canada.com/reginalea ... fault.aspx
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoe ... 080a5dbc4d
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/ ... 254c84e361
Jovan @ Sat May 17, 2008 10:35 pm
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
Lest we forget!
R+I+P