Blog: Older veterans honour comradeship on 75th anniversary of VJ Day
This Saturday, 15 August 2020, is the 75th anniversary of VJ Day.
It marks 75 years since the allied forces secured victory over Japan and finally brought World War Two to an end.
Older veterans will be able to mark the occasion, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, there will be no public gatherings and events will be held online.
Saturday’s programme of commemorative events has been organised by the Scottish Government, Legion Scotland and Poppy Scotland to highlight the sacrifice of all those who served in the brutal Far East campaign and pay respect to the World War Two generation.
They include a commemorative service and concert, attended by the First Minister, which will be broadcast on Legion Scotland’s social media channels.
There will also be a two minute silence to remember those who lost their lives. Veterans and representatives from the Armed Forces will take part alongside the Veterans Minister Graeme Dey.
The Red Arrows will perform a flypast of Edinburgh, as the first stop on a UK-wide tour and Legion Scotland will issue medallions in honour of those who made a contribution to the war effort during World War Two.
Applications for commemorative medallions remain open to any individuals who made an contribution to the war effort and can be made via b.ward@legionscotland.org.uk
In an effort to preserve the history of those who were involved in the conflict in the Far East, The Royal British Legion have created an interactive map where veterans can share their stories or post a message of thanks and remembrance: https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/remembrance/remembrance-events/vj-day/vj-day-map
Sharing experience and stories with others who have served in the armed forces is valued by many veterans and it’s often in veterans’ groups or clubs where those who served can experience a strong sense of community and connection.
Unfortunately most of these groups and clubs have been unable to meet physically for the past few months. Many groups have created new opportunities for members to socialise and stay connected using web-based services such as Zoom but Age Scotland recognised a need to create opportunities to connect with others that are accessible for all.
Last month Age Scotland was awarded funding by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to launch a new project called Comradeship Circles.
Through Comradeship Circles, individuals can chat and share memories of military life with each other by phone, in groups of up to six for about an hour, at the same time and on the same day each week. A facilitator from Age Scotland will be on hand but will mostly leave it to the group to speak to each other.
Veterans aged 50 and older, including Regulars, Reservists, National Service men and Merchant seafarers who have been part of a UK military operation, can register to join with a call to the Age Scotland helpline on 0800 12 44 222. Veterans’ spouses, widows and widowers can also join. Community groups interested in establishing a dedicated Comradeship Circle for older veterans they work with can email Rachel at veteransproject@agescotland.org.uk.
