Weekly Address: Honoring the 70th Anniversary of V-E Day

[cal04]

Source: White House

In this week’s address, the President honored the 70th anniversary of V-E Day. On this occasion, we commemorate the Allied victory in Europe during World War II. It is a day to pay tribute to the men and women who decades ago served and sacrificed for the cause of freedom. This was the generation that, by ending the war, literally saved the world, laying a foundation for peace.

The President asked that in addition to commemorating this important anniversary, we honor the men and women in uniform who currently serve our country, and recommit ourselves to the values we share with our allies in Europe and beyond: freedom, security, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law around the world.

Read more: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/weekly-address

---

May 8, 2015
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/05/07/weekly-address-honoring-70th-anniversary-v-e-day

Hello, everybody. Today marks an historic anniversary—70 years since the Allied victory in Europe during World War II. On V-E Day after the Nazi surrender, people swarmed the streets of London and Paris and Moscow, and the cloud of fear that had hung for so many years finally lifted. Here at home, from small towns to Times Square, crowds gathered in celebration, singing and dancing with joy. There would still be three more months of deadly fighting in the Pacific. But for a few hours, the world rejoiced in the hope of peace.

General Eisenhower announced the news with little fanfare. “The Mission of this Allied Force,” he said, “was fulfilled.” But his simple message belied the extraordinary nature of the Allied victory—and the staggering human loss. For over five years, brutal fighting laid waste to an entire continent. Mothers, fathers, children were murdered in concentration camps. By the time the guns fell silent in Europe, some 40 million people on the continent had lost their lives.

Today, we pay tribute to all who served. They were patriots, like my grandfather who served in Patton’s Army—soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, coast guard, merchant marines—and the women of the WACs and the WAVES and every branch. They risked their lives, and gave their lives so that we, the people the world over, could live free. They were women who stepped up in unprecedented numbers, manning the home front, and—like my grandmother—building bombers on assembly lines.

This was the generation that literally saved the world—that ended the war and laid a foundation for peace.

This was the generation that traded in their uniforms for a college education so they could marry their sweethearts, buy homes, raise children and build the strongest middle class the world has ever known.

This was the generation that included heroes like the Tuskegee Airmen, the Navajo Code Talkers and the Japanese-Americans of the 442nd Regiment—and who continued the fight for freedom here at home, expanding equality and opportunity and justice for minorities and women.

We will be forever grateful for what these remarkable men and women did, for the selfless grace they showed in one of our darkest hours. But as we mark this 70th anniversary, let’s not simply commemorate history. Let’s rededicate ourselves to the freedoms for which they fought.

more at link

[CBGLuthier]

1. I do not consider the men and women who serve today to bear even a passing

resemblance to those who served in WWII. WWII was about defeating evil. Today's american military is about preserving the empire.

[Scarsdale]

2. Celebration

I was a child in England when this happened. Everyone brought out tables, table cloths and whatever food there was available to share, since rationing was in effect. Everyone was happy, neighbors celebrating together. Tables were lined up down the middle of the street. Great memories, to try to forget the bombings, all the bad stuff. I think just about every street in my city did the same thing.

[Cha]

3. President Obama's grandfather.. mahalo cal~

The White House @WhiteHouse
· 15h 15 hours ago
Let's honor the heroes who fought to protect our freedom.
Share the story of a WWII vet in your family with #VEDay70.

http://theobamadiary.com/2015/05/06/a-tweet-or-two-285/

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Thanks for posting!

Just before our local radio station aired it, the announcer mentioned that this had been recorded for yesterday's commemoration (5/8/15) of the event (VE day), despite being aired today.

My father served in the Pacific Theater and that anniversary (VJ day) will occur in September...

(as a side note, it's a damn shame that Bush was trying to create a "VI day" with that "Mission Accomplished" garbage in 2003)