Today is the 80th anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe Day), which saw the end of the Second World War in Europe.
The Mayor joined veterans and service personnel; Councillor Tony Dyer, the Leader of Bristol City Council; and civic leaders today at City Hall for a flag-raising to commemorate the occasion.
Helen Godwin, the new Mayor of the West of England, said:
“VE Day is another opportunity to reflect on the dedicated service of our armed forces, past and present. We will forever be indebted to the bravery of my grandparents’ generation, in particular to all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country fighting for freedom not only in Europe but across the world.
“During this morning’s flag raising, I remembered people on the Home Front in the West of England. The Blitz, and the Baedeker raids, devastated communities across our region. In Bristol and Bath, Filton and Yate, and beyond, thousands of people lost their lives and many more lost their homes.
“Along with the war memorials around the West of England, the ruins of St Peter’s Church in Castle Park in Bristol are one of many permanent and powerful reminders of this chapter of our history. So too are the stories of people like Harry Patch from Combe Down, remembered as 'the Last Fighting Tommy' from the First World War, who was by then a firefighter in Bath helping to tackle the flames.
“I am also thinking of all those serving our country today, including on the Bristol-affiliated HMS Prince of Wales, and people around the world still suffering due to conflict.
“Today is sadly likely to be among our final chances to honour the Second World War veterans who are still with us. To them, today, and every day, we say: thank you.”
Later today, the Mayoral Combined Authority will join government buildings across the country in holding a two-minute silence at 12 noon, before the Mayor attends other VE Day commemoration events in the West of England.
