VJ Day 75 commemorations Saturday 15th August

Published: 10 August 2020

Whilst VE Day (Victory in Europe) marked the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, many thousands of Armed Forces personnel were still engaged in bitter fighting in the Far East. Victory over Japan would come at a heavy price, and Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) marks the day Japan surrendered on 15th August 1945, which in effect ended the Second World War.

New Romney Town Council will once again join forces with the Royal British Legion New Romney Branch to mark this event 'virtually' and we would like to invite you to join in. We would, of course, have been joining together in physical events of commemoration, had it not been for the coronavirus pandemic.

 All this week we will be posting on the New Romney Town Council Facebook page, information on how you can join in the commemoration, some of the national events taking place, and a little of the history of this day, 75 years ago. 

On the actual day, Saturday 15th August, following the national two minute silence of remembrance at 11.00am, a video will be shown on our Facebook pages of the Right Worshipful the Mayor of New Romney, Cllr Paul Thomas, laying a wreath on behalf  of the town on the Burma Star memorial. Then, at 11.15am, a video will be shown of the Mayor reading a Tribute to the Nation. 

We are also suggesting that you might like to make and display a white origami crane in your window to remember all the innocents who were maimed and killed throughout the world during the Second World War. Instructions can be seen on an instructional video. The story behind the crane can be seen on the Big Ideas/VJ day website. Additionally, details of bunting and posters that you might like to download and display can be found on the official website for VJ Day 75. 

We hope to make this another New Romney Town 'virtual' event to be remembered and, with your help, it will be!