Eight Decades Ago
It was on this date in 1945 that the guns fell silent across Europe with the German surrender and the end of World War II on that continent. VE Day, or Victory in Europe Day.
Given other events on the world stage, this anniversary does not seem to have the same attention being paid to it as perhaps it should.
France marks this date as a public holiday every year; other nations in the region are far more subdued in noting this milestone anniversary, much less the annual date. For the first time, Germany will take part in its own commemoration.
Earlier this week, the French defense ministry issued a statement, reading in part, “The 80th anniversary of the victory of 8 May 1945 implies, more than ever, a double responsibility, to the last surviving witnesses of the war, and to the younger generation.” The statement continued, saying in 2025, it is more essential than ever before that VE Day commemorations “honour the sacrifices of those who fought and suffered – but also transmit their testimonies and their memories to the young people of today.”
In total, around 183,588 American soldiers were killed in Europe and the Atlantic alone during World War II. They fought against tyranny, and for their free way of life.
Today is a somber reminder that, as the saying goes, “freedom isn’t free”…276,000 Iowans alone served in the full war, and of those, 8,398 lost their lives.
All that as a way of saying that it’s not too much to pause and reflect at some point during our busy day today…to give thanks to those who served so our days could be busy, with a schedule of our own choosing.
