New UK bank holiday planned next year to honour the ‘Greatest Generation’ in major anniversary
A new bank holiday could be added to the calendar next year to commemorate the 80th anniversary of World War Two ending.
A four-day celebration to honour those who fought against the Nazis and Japan is reportedly taking place in either May or August.
On May 8, 1945, Germany unconditionally surrendered, whilst on August 15, Japan also conceded, ending the six-year war between the Allies and the Axis.
Which date the four-day jamboree will fall on has not yet decided, but an announcement is imminent, The Express reports.
The celebration will likely be one of the last chances of many of the veterans who fought in the war to join in on the commemorations held in their honour.
Only around 70,000 veterans of the “Greatest Generation” are still alive today.
Market Garden Veteran Geoff Roberts, 99, said: “I think it’s very important in these current times we remember those that gave their lives for our freedom and peace in Europe.”
Roberts, who was a prisoner of war, added: “We should never forget them. Maybe an extra bank holiday will help to remind people about what’s happened in the past.”
The Government is reportedly discussing which four-days to pick to hold the celebrations on, Either May 9 and 12 could be wiped free, or August 22 could be made a bank holiday to make the August 2025 bank holiday a four-day extravaganza.
The extra days off would allow communities all across the UK to celebrate the landmark anniversary, much like they did for the Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
Celebrating the Queen’s 70th anniversary in June two years ago, Britons were given four days to celebrate, with many street parties being held up and down the country.
Maire Scott, 98, who was 17 on D-Day, said: “An additional bank holiday would be an opportunity to thank all those wonderful people who made such a spectacular victory possible because, without them, the future could have been very dire indeed.”
Scott worked in a top secret underground bunker passing coded messages from military commanders to soldiers landing on the beaches in Normandy.
More to follow…