Together, through a series of International, national and local events, we will commemorate and celebrate the 80th anniversaries of VICTORY in EUROPE Day (VE Day) on May 8th and VICTORY in JAPAN Day (VJ Day) on August 15th, while showing our gratitude to the men, women and children who dedicated their lives to the war effort.
These commemorations will be an opportunity to honor our living Second World War veterans. It will be a time for us to come together to listen to their stories and reflect on the values, service, and selflessness displayed across the nations that led to the Allied victory.
As it was in 1945, the heart of these celebrations will be focused on commemorating in our own communities with the 8th of May being dedicated to VE Day celebrations and the 15th of August being dedicated to VJ Day celebrations.
VE Day marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe in May. VJ Day marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Japan in August. There are many ways you can get involved with VE / VJ Day celebrations. Here are some of the things you can do and ways you can find out more:
Celebrate our freedom by sharing food together. This could be a small gathering with friends, a street lunch party with neighbors, a food festival in your community or even a BBQ.
With the launch of The Big Lunch Guide to Bringing People Together, full of event planning resources and tips, craft activities and conversation prompts for communities hosting local celebrations, planning your event has never been easier.
Get tips and materials to help you host
Our Shared Story is a collection of educational resources to support young people to engage with VE and VJ Day 80th commemorations, both inside and outside the classroom. We want every school child in the community to have the opportunity to connect with the stories of the end of the Second World War. Sign up to download the education starter pack to understand the range of opportunities for schools to participate in VEVJ Day 80: Our Shared Story. Whether you are planning a school-wide assembly, classroom discussion, street party, or creative project, you’ll have access to adaptable resources to create a meaningful and educational commemoration of VE Day.
Sign up to download the education pack
Whether you live downtown, or uptown, in Bradford, along the riverway, in the surrounding farming communities, over in Hilldale, Washington hill, towards the village or the outskirts of town, we’re encouraging the public, volunteer networks and community groups to join together ahead of Monday 8 May to take part in activities that will get your neighborhood ready for VE Day and VJ Day 80.
From making your own VE Day 80 decorations to joining a local community group to plant flowers in communal gardens, we want to hear from you on how you are getting in the VE / VJ Day spirit.
Tell us about how you're making your neighborhood a part of “Haverhill Honors Heroes” for VE Day
We are inviting schools, young people, and anyone who wishes to honor those who lost their lives in service to the allied nations during WWII - especially the forty-six of our own from Haverhill, by placing flowers and notes of gratitude at our memorial monument in Washington Square.
You can use these online resources to discover local Second World War histories and connections:
Amazon.com
https://www.amazon.com › Haverhill-World-Editorial-.
Haverhill in World War II – Books
A copy of “Haverhill in World War II” will be made available for public viewing on VE Day 8 May and VJ Day 15 August at the Mayor’s Office. Make your visit part of a Scavenger Hunt to locate random facts and tokens around WWII themes!
Haverhill In World War II Hardcover – October 20, 2012
by War Records Committee (Author), Albert W Glynn (Foreword)
Haverhill In World War II is a book that provides a comprehensive account of the city of Haverhill, Massachusetts during the Second World War. The book has been compiled by the War Records Committee and includes detailed information about the city's involvement in the war effort. The book covers various aspects of life in Haverhill during the war, including the experiences of soldiers who went to fight, the impact of the war on the local economy, and the contributions made by women and minorities. It also includes information about the city's military installations, such as the Haverhill Army Airfield and the Haverhill Naval Ammunition Depot. The book features numerous photographs, maps, and other illustrations that help to bring the story of Haverhill during the war to life. It also includes personal accounts and stories from local residents who lived through this period of history. Overall, Haverhill In World War II is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of Haverhill or the Second World War. It provides a fascinating insight into the experiences of a small American city during one of the most tumultuous periods in modern history. An attempt to record the story of one American city, the valor and the sacrifice of its sons and daughters in the armed forces, and the labor and sacrifice of its people at home in the protection of their own liberties and the liberties of all good men everywhere. This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
You can use these resources to find out more about memorials near you:
https://haverhill.pastperfectonline.com › bysearchterm
Monuments | Haverhill Public Library - Special Collections
· massmilitarymonuments.com
https://www.massmilitarymonuments.com › Haverhill-Mass
Veterans Memorials in Massachusetts Towns
· VisitMA
https://www.visitma.com › uploads › 2013/11 › H...
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The American Legion
https://www.legion.org › united-states › Massachusetts
World War I Monument, Haverhill, Massachusetts
http://www.haverhillhistory.org › BM_WarMemor...PDF
· History comes alive at the Buttonwoods Museum!
Share your Letters to Loved Ones
In recognition of your “Letters to Loved Ones”, we invite you to share your families’ stories captured in your photos and letters of the past that your family has saved over the years, letters written by your or to your WWII era Veterans. You can bring them to our office to make copies and please only leave us with a copy. Take home , keep, protect and cherish these mementos of the past. Ask your friends, neighbors, relatives, and distant relatives to contribute their copies of “Letters to Loved Ones” as well.
Share your Second World War stories, family histories and messages of remembrance on social media. Use #VE80, #VJ80 and #Victory80 and follow the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on X, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn to join the conversation now.
Use our dedicated toolkit for resources and branding for your activity, including the official logos and materials from The Big Lunch to help you put on a fabulous event.
The Royal British Legion’s Teaching Remembrance Learning program supports young people across the Globe to learn about who, why and how we remember with free resources and online events for young people and their teachers, youth groups and families. In 2025, the RBL will be helping young people to remember VE and VJ Day with a special online exploration of stories from the end of the Second World War, Q&A session and a range of supporting learning resources for Primary, Secondary and Further Education pupils.
