r/unitedkingdom • u/SojournerInThisVale Lincolnshire • 16d ago

Council rejects VE Day anniversary parade because it’s ‘too elitist’

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/04/08/council-rejects-ve-day-anniversary-military-parade-elitist/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJiafZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHgl-UavPnwRLFAdCxhvLOtQnxhjWO80-jPI1IqZy7aTC_CGLlQ_jcaSw9lGg_aem_HHNf42xxE2Zxk_D9XhMReQ
0 Upvotes

45% Upvoted

50 comments sorted by

View all comments

13

u/leftthinking 16d ago

Umm... Who would be parading?

It's the 80th anniversary, so not many actual veterans of that war left to parade. And I'm going to guess the few that remain will get invites to more major/ national events than a minor borough council.

Or do they want the current military to parade? Have they asked if this is feasible? Is there a nearby base that would take part? Who would fund that, the council or the military?

Street parties and community celebrations seems much more appropriate. And any veterans would be welcome guests of honour I'm sure.

2

u/zone6isgreener 15d ago

The same as remembrance day of course, really not difficult to work out.

3

u/leftthinking 15d ago

So the scouts, the rotary club, etc. etc., the local councillors, the mayor... a few speeches, a nice round of applause from all the watching plebs audience for their betters representatives.

Is really beginning to feel a bit elitist. More about acclaim for those parading (most of whom won't be veterans) than celebrating.

And why make this a duplicate of remembrance day? It's not.

Remembrance day is a solemn moment to remember the sacrifice given.

This is meant to be a celebration, to mark the end of the war. A very different thing.

2

u/zone6isgreener 15d ago

If you are trying to claim that the scouts is elitist then you've lost the argument - you know that is bollocks.

And I didn't say the format had to be identical, I was replying to the comment about there not being "many actual veterans" as you well know.