Students Attend VE Day 80 Flag Raising Ceremony

Student Leaders attended a ‘Raising of the VE Day 80th Anniversary Flag’ ceremony at the Milton Keynes City Council Offices on Thursday 8th May.  The event commemorated the contributions of Buckinghamshire to the Second World War and bringing about peace in Europe.  Students said they were "very honoured to get this opportunity to be part of VE Day."  Before the raising of the flag, students were warmly welcomed by the Mayor of Milton Keynes, Councillor Marie Bradburn.  She spoke of the contributions of Bletchley Park and the Codebreakers who bravely and silently carried on their work until the last gun fell silent in Japan.  Next, Councillor Peter Marland spoke of his personal connection to the war and how his grandfather fought for our freedom.  He reminded the students that many of them will also have ancestors who fought and that they should be proud.  The third speaker was The Countess Howe, His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant in Buckinghamshire.  She spoke very eloquently to the students also reminding them again of the Codebreakers and our local connections to the war. The final speaker was Major (Ret’d) James Robertson who reminded the students that freedom isn’t free.  They have inherited this freedom as part of their great grandparents’ and grandparents’ legacy, but that it is a precious thing and needs to be looked after. 

The beautiful and inspirational ceremony ended with the raising of the new VE Day 80th Anniversary flag.  Guests were also treated to musical interludes by the Alina Orchestra who played ‘Colonel Bogey’ and ‘The Dam Busters March’ as well as Sea Cadet POC Jemma Bell playing ‘Hearts of Oak’ and ‘He’s a Pirate.’  After the ceremony, the students joined the public and special guests to mingle and for refreshments.  Several students spoke with different veterans, the Mayor, and the Countess Howe who graciously posed for a picture with them.  The atmosphere was very positive and lively and the students said that "It was amazing to talk to different people in all different high ranking positions in the Milton Keynes community. It was inspiring also to hear about how Bletchley Park assisted in the war" and "The VE Day ceremony today was a really good experience! It was lovely to talk to some important people and be part of this remembrance."