The Royal British Legion has announced a special tea party at the National Memorial Arboretum on 8th May to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day. WW2 veterans share their memories of the historic day and reflect on the importance of remembrance for future generations. Report by Etemadil. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
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00:00That's okay, that's okay. So, could everybody just hold up their flag?
00:05Yes.
00:06Could you give us a salute? Yes, would that be okay?
00:10Lovely.
00:12Okay.
00:14Joe, could you hold your teacup?
00:16Because it's lovely to see you at the reception.
00:18Have you got your photographs?
00:19I think this should happen.
00:21Okay.
00:22He's got his photographs.
00:23He's got his photographs.
00:25We need to get Bernard's telex and everything as well.
00:29I think Sheila's got an issue. Thanks, Mark.
00:41Have we got what we need?
00:49So, the Royal British Legion, we've been talking to more than 100 Second World War veterans
00:53and their families about how they can get involved.
00:55And for some, that will be locally in the community in which they live.
00:58For some, it will be part of the national commemorative events.
01:01We're organising a tea party for the RBL,
01:04which is taking place at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
01:08And we hope to have many of the Second World War veterans there,
01:10probably one of the largest gatherings of Second World War veterans.
01:14So, great to get them all there for that tea party,
01:16which will be a joyous occasion, a celebration as it was 80 years ago.
01:20So, kind of an outbreaking of joy and a real celebration of the end of the Second World War in Europe.
01:26It was a joyous occasion, just full of people.
01:29And we did the Pally Glide down Piccadilly
01:33and then eventually walked round to the Mall
01:37and came out in front of Buckingham Palace,
01:40where there was the King and Queen, along with Winston Churchill
01:44and, of course, the late Queen, who was in ATS uniform.
01:48There was this sort of electric feeling going through the crowd.
01:52And, yes, there were people on the lampposts
01:56and we were shouting, We want the King! We want the King!
02:01And eventually they came out, just the King and the Queen
02:06and Princess Elizabeth, as I say, in her khaki,
02:10and also Princess Margaret came out.
02:15And, yes, so there we were and we cheered like crazy
02:19and took off any scarves, anything anybody had to wave, we waved it.
02:25And it was a wonderful moment and, of course,
02:29eventually the crowds dispersed and we all went off.
02:34I think we were doing the Conga somewhere.
02:38I give talks at all schools in Manchester and Crewe
02:43and other organisations and RAF stations
02:48up at Lossiemouth in Scotland.
02:52I do it so that the present generation know
02:57how the sailors, soldiers, airmen, airwomen and civilians
03:04gave their lives for the freedom that we have today.