Cayman Islands to Commemorate VE-Day 80th Anniversary

By: Marsha Ebanks   

The Cayman Islands will commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE)-Day at an event to be held at the Cayman Turtle Centre in West Bay on Thursday, 8 May starting 7:30 pm. Members of the public are invited to join Celebrate Cayman and the Cayman Islands Veterans Association in honouring the significant occasion.

Executive Chairman of Celebrate Cayman Alfonso Wright, stated, “As we celebrate VE-Day, we not only honour the bravery of our veterans but also reflect on the values of peace and unity that this day represents. We encourage everyone to join us in this celebration of freedom and remembrance.”

Governor Jane Owen, Premier Honourable André Ebanks and other government officials will participate in Thursday evening’s celebration. The event will also include President of Cayman Islands Veterans Association, Andrew McLaughlin, as well the association’s members and relatives.

Cayman will join more than 200 beacon locations to remember the tens of thousands of allied forces who gave service on D-DAY eighty plus years ago to secure peace and ending of the second World War in Europe. The 80th VE-Day anniversary ceremony is a reminder of those who served during World War II from the British West Indies and particularly the Cayman Islands. During the war, a company of the Jamaica Home Guard was established on Grand Cayman in June 1942, and the men carried out their duties until the end of the campaign in 1945.

To mark this important milestone, large fires or beacons will be lit across the United Kingdom (UK), Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories. Special lamp lights of peace will also be lit on each of the five beaches in Normandy in keeping with the longstanding tradition in Britain during that time.