Queen Elizabeth Commences Britain’s V-E Day Ceremonies

Queen Elizabeth II on Friday launched Britain’s official commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, praising her nation’s profound wartime courage and common resolve.

In a ceremony at Westminster Hall in Parliament, she told British leaders: “We salute with pride the valor of our armed forces who brought us to victory. Together we thank God for the victorious end to that titanic struggle.”

On a summery day, the queen reflected on earlier, dark times, saying, “The years of the Second World War formed my youth. I remember my father and mother telling us at home of the courage and unity of purpose they encountered on all sides during their wartime travels. These memories have remained with me all my life.

“We must remember especially those who did not come back,” she added. “It is to their courage and heroic sacrifice that we owe our celebrations today.”

Britain, she noted, should offer its prayers for the wives, husbands and families of those who died in the war and to those whose vigils ended in “heartbreaking loss and loneliness.”

She paid special tribute to countries that stood by Britain from the war’s onset and noted that “later, we were joined by the colossal power of the United States of America and Russia. And so the mighty alliance was formed which brought us inexorably to that day we are commemorating here.”

Speaker of the Commons Betty Boothroyd also spoke Friday, defending the war effort from criticisms of revisionist historians.

“Today,” she said, “when some contemporary writers are busy with their versions of history, I am more than ever certain of one thing: (World War II) was a war worth fighting, it was a fight worth winning. The price was high, but the consequences of defeat would have been unthinkable.”

All across Britain, V-E Day will be commemorated this weekend, although officially the end of the European war will be marked on Monday.

London and southern England have been jammed with tourists--many of them Americans and Canadians--who are participating in V-E Day-related ceremonies.

During this week, most British newspapers ran facsimile front pages from 50 years ago. Hyde Park has a 60-acre site set aside as an outdoor museum with tents, pavilions and stages, with troops, cavalry horses and World War II aircraft and artillery displays.

And more than 50 world leaders are to attend a service in London this evening, hosted by the queen and Royal Family.