Like the VE Day generation, hope for better days to come – Lord Provost Frank Ross

Edinburgh’s celebrations have been curtailed by the Covid-19 pandemic, but we can still mark this milestone anniversary, says Frank Ross

An RAF officer, two members of the Women's Royal Airforce and a civilian celebrate the news of victory in London's Whitehall (Picture: Fox Photos/Getty Images)

This Friday, 8th May, marks 75 years since the guns fell silent and the Second World War in Europe came to an end.

Our original plans were for the city to come together to mark this important anniversary with a series of events in the Capital. More than 100 Second World War veterans were due to take centre stage in West Princes Street Gardens as the whole country paused to remember the generation who sacrificed so much on a special bank holiday Friday.

Unfortunately, the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has forced the cancellation of these events but I believe it remains important to remember the sacrifice, courage and determination shown during World War II and do what we can to mark the important anniversary.

Cllr Frank Ross is the Lord Provost of Edinburgh

As we remember and pay tribute to the struggles the wartime generation faced, we’re experiencing an uncertain and difficult time ourselves. As we honour VE Day we can look to that generation and learn from their resilience, determination and hope for better days to come.

While we can’t have street parties and celebrations in pubs, or services in churches, as with many other areas of our lives, we can join in virtually.

On Friday from just before 11am there will be a virtual service of remembrance which will be broadcast live on the Legion Scotland Facebook page (www.facebook.com/LegionScotland). The service will be followed at midday by a virtual tribute concert, featuring performances from several of the groups who had been lined up for the Princes Street Gardens concert.

Poppyscotland has a range of online and virtual activities that you can get involved in including learning resources for young ones to a guide to hosting your own “virtual” VE Day party.

Whilst of course it is disappointing that the events have been cancelled, we are all playing our part by remaining indoors and I hope everyone takes a moment to remember those who fought for us. I will be joining the nations toast at 3pm and then we all have the chance to join a national singalong of Vera Lynn’s We’ll Meet Again as part of the BBC 1 programming. It’s sure to be very emotional.

It’s been a tremendous effort to rearrange how we can celebrate the day and I want to thank Legion Scotland and Poppyscotland.

We must all remember the struggles people went through during the Second World War and let us use their resilience and determination as inspiration to carry everyone through the difficult period we’re facing during the pandemic.

As always, my thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been touched by the coronavirus. Let’s do what we can (safely) in these challenging times to mark this significant occasion.

Cllr Frank Ross is the Lord Provost of Edinburgh