Cayman Islands to mark 80th VE Day at Turtle Centre
(CNS): On Thursday, 8 May, the Cayman Islands will commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day at the Cayman Turtle Centre in West Bay, marking Cayman’s role in the Second World War. Although there are no surviving WWII veterans today, this territory played its part as a company of the Jamaica Home Guard, which was established on Grand Cayman in June 1942. The members carried out their duties until the end of the campaign in 1945.
Executive Chairman of Celebrate Cayman, Alfonso Wright, said the celebrations not only honour the bravery of our veterans but also reflect the values of peace and unity that this day represents. “We encourage everyone to join us in this celebration of freedom and remembrance,” he said.
Governor Jane Owen, Premier André Ebanks and other government officials will take part in the commemoration with Cayman Islands Veterans Association President Andrew McLaughlin, as well as CIVA 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, the term used for the Normandy landings that took place on 6 June 1944, which were essential to the Allied victory on the Western Front and led to the end of the Second World War in Europe.
The 80th VE-Day anniversary ceremony in the Cayman Islands is a reminder of those who served during World War II from the British West Indies, particularly these islands.
To mark this important milestone, large fires or beacons will be lit across the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the 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.
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Category: Local News
VE Day is to be ‘celebrated’, rightfully so, because too many lives were lost to ever forget or erase. There will cynics or trolls about, so let’s be clear, besides the larger picture, it’s fitting we honour it here.
Caymanians blood spilled in WW1, WW2 and Vietnam. Take a look at the inside walls of Elmsie Memorial, for starters. The Archives..
Vietnam? I had 2 cousins there, only one made it back. Also a young man from West Bay was killed.
A Caymanian pilot flew bombing raids over Germany with the USAAF. Caymanians were POWs in Europe.
Let’s not even mention the many dozens of Caymanian merchant seamen who went down to German torpedoes…or shall we?
So, honour and remember? Hell, yes!
yup… and the innocent lives in present times should not be overlooked. these current wars need to end too!
What better place to celebrate than a slaughterhouse
Go home.
So what time does this celebration take place?
Who exactly are the members of the Cayman Islands Veterans Association?
07@2:39pm. As far as I know the current members of CIVA are veterans of military service in various armed forces. Some claim to have seen deployment in US Balkan and Iraq conflicts; some served in HM Armed Forces and may have seen Falklands deployment; others I’m not sure. I don’t believe there are any WW2 veterans left in the CIVA but there were.
CIVA was founded by Caymanians who had seen active service (mainly minesweeping) in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserves based in Trinidad and some HM Forces veterans.
Thise that served in USA wars should be getting their pensions money from USA. Not from Cayman. I know one man getting the Seamen benefits from Cayman Government, because he say he was in the USA Rserves when he was living in USA.shame.
Shhhhh! You ask too many sensible questions!