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South China Morning Post
19-05-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
UK children write to WWII veterans for VE Day 80th anniversary
Tens of thousands of children in the UK wrote to World War II veterans as part of a project aimed at teaching new generations about the significance of the conflict before the Victory in Europe Day celebrations on May 8. The VE Mail initiative was launched by campaign group Together Coalition to mark 80 years since Nazi Germany surrendered, ending the war in Europe. The group encouraged schools and youth centres to request a letter from a veteran, detailing their wartime experience and its significance to them. Around 1,300 schools requested a letter, and children participating in the programme replied with their own letters. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission will put the letters from veterans and children into the national archive. Answer: to teach new generations about the significance of World War II
The Sun
18-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Almost half of Brit population joined in VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations smashing previous records
A RECORD 31.1million people joined the VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations earlier this month. Almost half the country took part in some way, by attending street parties, parades or by observing the two-minute silence. 8 8 8 8 8 It smashed the record set by the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022, when 16.8million people took part. Brendan Cox, whose Together Coalition helped promote the commemoration, said: 'The historic levels of participation tell us there is a desire to connect with our shared history and to celebrate shared values together. 'At a time when our politics is more fragmented than ever, it's all the more welcome our country is still able to come together to celebrate what we have in common.' The events marked eight decades since the end of World War Two in Europe on May 8, 1945. A military parade past Buckingham Palace was watched by the Royal Family and veterans. Thousands of street parties were also set up across Britain. A service was held in Westminster Abbey and 10,000 people joined the King and Queen at a pop concert on Horse Guards Parade. VE Day was a 'jolly' moment but work went on, 100-year-old former Wren says 8 8 8
BBC News
08-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Children in Leicester moved by VE Day letter from WW2 veteran
Children moved by VE Day letter from WW2 veteran 10 minutes ago Share Save Helen McCarthy BBC News, Leicester Share Save BBC Children at Forest Lodge Academy in New Parks, Leicester, have exchanged letters with a 100-year-old World War Two veteran Children at a primary school in Leicester have said they were "amazed" to receive a letter from a living World War Two veteran. The youngsters at Forest Lodge Academy in New Parks received the message from 100-year-old Mervyn Kersh, who was called up to serve for his country aged 18. The children have written letters in response, and their replies will be sent to Mr Kersh and also saved in a national archive. This is part of the UK government's national programme to commemorate the 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ Day. Year 6 teacher Sarah Jackson says she hopes Mervyn Kersh enjoys reading the children's replies to his letter Teacher Sarah Jackson signed her Year 6 class up to the VE Mail scheme, which is run by charity The Together Coalition. Mr Kersh's letter described how he was called up aged 18, whilst living in London, and by 19 was landing on the beaches of Normandy three days after the start of the D-Day invasion. Miss Jackson said: "I think it's really important that we hear the accounts from these veterans so that we can remember the sacrifices they made for future generations. "He's going to receive more than 30 letters. I hope he enjoys reading them. "The hardest part for me when I read the letter was that when he went home, he was obviously excited, and his mum doesn't recognise him. "That must have been heartbreaking." Archie, Evelina and Asantelucy hold up a copy of the letter they received from Mr Kersh The Year 6 children have been studying World War Two and VE Day, and were excited to read first-hand what it was like for Mr Kersh, who fought in Europe and North Africa. Evelina, 11, said she thought he was brave to fight in the war even though he had little choice. "It must have been terrifying how he went through all this," she said. "I think he swapped food with other people because he was Jewish, so he couldn't eat most of the food there." PA Media The children thanked Mr Kersh for his bravery during the war Archie, 11, said: "The thing that stands out to me is how he's 100, and he still visits schools and tells people about his story. "He's going to be shocked because he's going to have so many letters delivered to him." Asantelucy, also 11, wrote to say thank you to Mr Kersh. She said: "When Miss Jackson read the letter for us, I was amazed by his bravery, how he fought in the war for us all so we could live in a free country and have free rights and free speech. "I wrote to him to say I was thankful for everything he did for us." Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.
France 24
01-05-2025
- General
- France 24
Thousands of UK children write to WWII veterans ahead of VE Day
The VE Mail initiative was launched by campaign group Together Coalition ahead of events next week to mark 80 years since Nazi Germany surrendered, signalling an end to the war in Europe. Together Coalition encouraged schools and youth centres to request a letter from a veteran, detailing their wartime experience and its significance to them 80 years later. "The next generation is particularly important if we want the legacy of VE Day to live on," said the group. Around 1,300 schools requested a letter and children participating in the programme have replied with their own letters. Veterans have since started to receive "mail bags full of responses from schoolchildren," the group said Thursday, adding the number of letters was in the tens of thousands. Veterans who received replies included 103-year-old bombardier Tom Jones, who said "the victory meant the world to us at the time - but the values are as relevant today as they were then". "With fewer surviving veterans still with us, VE Mail is a major opportunity to pass the baton of memory and of meaning to the next generation," he added. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has said it will put letters from veterans and children into the national archive. Victory in Europe Day, known as VE Day, is celebrated on May 8 each year, but celebrations will begin in the UK on Monday, a scheduled public holiday. The Royal Mint, the UK's official coin maker, said that commemorative coins to mark the occasion were on sale from Thursday. The VE Day 50p coin will feature a dove of peace, a design originally created for 1995 celebrations marking the 50th anniversary. The new coins bear the inscription "In peace goodwill" and will be available in a range of finishes.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Thousands of UK children write to WWII veterans ahead of VE Day
Tens of thousands of UK children have written to World War II veterans as part of a project to teach new generations about the "memory and of meaning" of the conflict ahead of Victory in Europe Day celebrations. The VE Mail initiative was launched by campaign group Together Coalition ahead of events next week to mark 80 years since Nazi Germany surrendered, signalling an end to the war in Europe. Together Coalition encouraged schools and youth centres to request a letter from a veteran, detailing their wartime experience and its significance to them 80 years later. "The next generation is particularly important if we want the legacy of VE Day to live on," said the group. Around 1,300 schools requested a letter and children participating in the programme have replied with their own letters. Veterans have since started to receive "mail bags full of responses from schoolchildren," the group said Thursday, adding the number of letters was in the tens of thousands. Veterans who received replies included 103-year-old bombardier Tom Jones, who said "the victory meant the world to us at the time - but the values are as relevant today as they were then". "With fewer surviving veterans still with us, VE Mail is a major opportunity to pass the baton of memory and of meaning to the next generation," he added. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has said it will put letters from veterans and children into the national archive. Victory in Europe Day, known as VE Day, is celebrated on May 8 each year, but celebrations will begin in the UK on Monday, a scheduled public holiday. The Royal Mint, the UK's official coin maker, said that commemorative coins to mark the occasion were on sale from Thursday. The VE Day 50p coin will feature a dove of peace, a design originally created for 1995 celebrations marking the 50th anniversary. The new coins bear the inscription "In peace goodwill" and will be available in a range of finishes. jwp/jkb/giv
