Today the world marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day). On May 8, 1945, World War II in Europe ended with the surrender of Nazi Germany. After more than six years of war, which began when Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union together invaded and occupied Poland, peace returned to Europe.
On the Western Front, Canada and the Western allies liberated Europe from Nazi tyranny, while on the Eastern front, Stalin’s USSR brought more death and oppression to the captive nations of Eastern Europe. Deliverance from Soviet Communist colonialism for the nations of Eastern Europe would not come until some four decades after the end of World War II.
On the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we honour the courage and valour of the men and women who served Canada in WWII. More than one million Canadians served, of whom some 40,000 were of Ukrainian heritage. More than 45,000 Canadians were killed and over 55,000 wounded in the fight for freedom. May Their Memory Be Eternal. Вічная Пам’ять.
Today, at 17.00 London time (12:00 EST) St. James’s Church will host the blessing of the stained glass window remembering the Heroes of their Day. To watch the stream of the event please click on the image below:
Today, while Canada recalls the sacrifice that a generation of Canadians made for Victory and for peace, Russia has broken that peace. Russia wages a genocidal war against Ukraine, seeking to destroy the Ukrainian people. Russia is committing war crimes and crimes against humanity on a scale not seen in Europe since WWII.
But through the horrors of Russia’s war, the Ukrainian people keep fighting, with unity of purpose and with bravery. Today we honour the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who courageously defend their country and all of Europe from Russian tyranny. And we must do all we can to get the Ukrainian people the weapons and financial support to keep Ukraine free.
Just as eight decades ago, the Nazi German war machine was defeated, so too must the Russian war machine be defeated. On the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe day, we reaffirm our commitment to to ensure that Ukraine’s Victory Day come as soon as possible.
Слава Україні! Героям Слава!
