Walsall marks VE Day 80th anniversary with flag-raising ceremony
Walsall Council marked the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day with a special flag-raising ceremony at 9am on Thursday 8 May 2025 outside the Council House.
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The Mayor of Walsall, Councillor Anthony Harris, has led a ceremony in Walsall that brought together civic dignitaries, local veterans and community groups to remember the VE Day 80th anniversary.
The event took place at 9am outside of Walsall Council House and also saw Group Captain Ian Sargeant, OBE KHS DL, deputy lieutenant of the West Midlands, attend as a representative of King Charles III.
Speaking at the flag-raising ceremony, the mayor of Walsall, Councillor Anthony Harris, said, "Today, we mark the historic 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. It is a great honour for me to lead the borough’s celebrations of VE Day 80, and we come together to commemorate the day peace was secured and victory declared across Europe.
"VE Day is a reminder of our nation’s resilience and courage. It’s a day of profound significance and a time for us to pay tribute and honour the past as well as celebrate with neighbours and loved ones.
"We raise this flag today and remember with gratitude all those whose sacrifices made peace possible.
"Lest we forget."
The raising of the flag marked the beginning of a day of remembrance and celebration across the borough.
The anniversary commemorates the historic day in 1945 when victory and peace were declared over all of Europe, officially ending the Second World War in Europe.
Libraries across the borough - including Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Darlaston, Streetly, Willenhall and the Lichfield Street Hub - are also hosting themed displays and activities to help residents explore and understand this important chapter in our shared history.
