At the moment, on the eightieth anniversary of VJ Day, we come collectively to mark the top of a battle that modified the world – to honour those that served within the Far East, and keep in mind those that by no means got here house. The legacy of those that served in World Conflict II lives on in our Armed Forces right this moment, who work tirelessly to guard the freedoms secured by means of their braveness and dedication.
The alliances cast through the Second World Conflict – in NATO, the Commonwealth and throughout the Far East – stay important to our collective safety. Earlier than I used to be elected because the Labour MP for Leyton and Wanstead, I served for over 24 years within the Royal Air Power, incomes the MBE for my service, with deployments in Haiti and Afghanistan as a part of the first Particular Operations Wing. This USAF formation was descended from the first Air Commando Group, created to help Orde Wingate’s Chindits in Burma – a part of the “Forgotten Military” whose braveness helped safe victory within the Far East.
Annually I go to the memorial behind the Ministry of Defence that recognises their sacrifice – a spot too typically missed, however which reminds us of the price of peace.
Eighty years on, the world feels more and more unstable. From Putin’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine to battle within the Center East, world instability is as soon as once more a part of our every day headlines. That’s the reason this anniversary issues. In a risky world, it’s extra essential than ever to mirror on the teachings of the previous, and the braveness, sacrifice, and resilience of those that got here earlier than us.
Victory in Japan got here at a heavy value. The ultimate months of the struggle in Asia and the Pacific had been marked by extraordinary hardship and loss. That legacy should not solely be remembered – it should information our actions right this moment.
As we mark this anniversary and listen to the tales of our VJ Day veterans, we fulfil a solemn obligation: to protect their legacy, move it on to future generations, and guarantee their sacrifice isn’t forgotten.
