The 77th anniversary of the Allied force's victory in the Atlantic and the end of World War II in Europe was marked on Sunday by a special V-E Day event hosted at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova served as the event’s keynote speaker. She drew parallels between the fighting that took place in Europe during World War II and the current conflict battle taking place between her country and Russia.
“How will we tell our children that we let it happen on our watch again?” Markarova asked. “History has much to tell us about the reason. This is the difference between the civilized world and savage barbarians, We learn from our actions. They do not.”
Markarova said she was grateful for American assistance in her country’s battle against Russia “to fight for freedom, democracy, and respect for human life.”
Sean Kennealy, deputy superintendent, National Mall and Memorial Parks, noted that V-E Day this year also fell on Mother’s Day. He called the contributions of America’s mothers to the war effort “immeasurable” as they entered the workforce in large numbers for the first time.
“In addition to maintaining their domestic duties at home, they also kept the wartime economy going, including helping to equip the arsenal of democracy,” he said. “World War II challenged for the first time just how capable mothers and all women were in contributing to and participating in American society outside of the home.”
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During the commemoration, World War II veterans and other dignitaries also placed wreaths at the memorial’s Freedom Wall in remembrance of the more than 400,000 Americans and 60 million people killed worldwide in the deadliest military conflict in human history.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.
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