2020年5月8日,是第二次世界大战欧战胜利75周年纪念日(Victory in Europe Day,简称VE Day)。
45年前的此时,1945年5月8日,纳粹德国无条件投降,时任英国首相丘吉尔宣布欧洲战争结束。站在英国卫生部大楼阳台上的丘吉尔,向群众比出了堪称经典的剪刀手。
75年后的今天,受新冠肺炎疫情影响,英国依然处于“封城”状态,但英国女王伊丽莎白二世、查尔斯王储、首相约翰逊以及皇家空军都以自己的方式庆祝这一节日。
昨天上午11点,英国全国默哀两分钟,所有公众集会被取消。
英国首相鲍里斯,在首相府默哀。

查尔斯王储与妻子卡米拉,在苏格兰身穿经典狩猎短裙服饰,以最高规格的致敬方式,缅怀逝去的生命。
英国皇家空军“Red Arrows”飞机,呼啸飞过伦敦上空,留下经典的红白蓝三色轨迹。
士兵们列队以社交距离的列队方式,纪念默哀。

晚9点,女王发表了新冠疫情期间第二次电视讲话,传递出“永不放弃、永不绝望 ”的主题。
这一时间,恰好与她的父亲、已故国王乔治六世在1945年发表广播讲话、正式宣布盟军胜利的时间,隔空吻合。
录像中,女王特地在书桌上摆放了二战时期的相片,仿佛是隔空与亡父的对话。
最初的75周年“欧战胜利日”庆祝计划包括有老兵游行仪式。然而,这一切的一切因为疫情戛然而止。女王不忘借此机会鼓励民众发扬二战精神,她再次鼓舞民众:英国最后一定能战胜疫情。
“我们可能无法如愿地纪念这个特殊日子,但我们在家中或家门口纪念它。”女王动情地表示:“我们的街道并非空空荡荡,街上充满着我们对彼此的爱和关怀。
除了每年一度的圣诞日外,女王正式讲话极为罕见。在位68年,英国遭遇举国危机、哀痛之际女王公开讲话只有三次,加上新冠疫情中这两次,这是第五次。

讲话结束,女高音歌唱家凯瑟琳·詹金斯在白金汉宫外缓缓唱响了二战歌曲我们会再相逢》,成千上万名英国民众,站在家门口一起合唱,画面动人
以下是女王讲话的视频与全文,让我们共同欣赏:
 "I speak to you today at the same hour as my father did, exactly 75 years ago.
75年前的今天此刻,我父亲发表了演讲,今天的同一时刻,我在这里大家讲话。
"His message then was a salute to the men and women at home and abroad who had sacrificed so much in pursuit of what he rightly called a 'great deliverance'.
“那时,他在讲话中向国内外的各类人士致敬,这些人为了追求他所称之为“伟大的拯救”,而付出了无数牺牲。
"The war had been a total war; it had affected everyone, and no one was immune from its impact.
“这场战争是一场全面的战争;它影响到了每一个人,没有人能免受其影响。
"Whether it be the men and women called up to serve; families separated from each other; or people asked to take up new roles and skills to support the war effort, all had a part to play.
“无论是被征召服役的男女;家庭彼此分离;还是人们被要求担负起新的角色和技能以支持战争的努力,都奉献着自己的力量。
"At the start, the outlook seemed bleak, the end distant, the outcome uncertain.
“一开始,前景似乎黯淡,终点遥远,结果不确定。
"But we kept faith that the cause was right - and this belief, as my father noted in his broadcast, carried us through.
“但是我们坚信原因是对的,正如我父亲在他的广播中指出的那样,这种信念使我们得以坚持下去。
"Never give up, never despair - that was the message of VE Day.
“永不放弃,绝不失望-这就是第二次世界大战欧战胜利纪念日 (Victory in Europe Day)向我们传递的信息。
"I vividly remember the jubilant scenes my sister and I witnessed with our parents and Winston Churchill from the balcony of Buckingham Palace."
“我依然生动地记得我姐姐和我与我们的父母和温斯顿·丘吉尔在白金汉宫阳台上目睹的欢乐场面。”
"The sense of joy in the crowds who gathered outside and across the country was profound, though while we celebrated the victory in Europe, we knew there would be further sacrifice.
“尽管庆祝欧战胜利的同时,我们知道还会有更多的人牺牲,但大家聚集在全国各地的人群中共同庆祝,那种喜悦感是深远的。
"It was not until August that fighting in the Far East ceased and the war finally ended.
“直到八月,远东的战斗才停止,战争终于结束。
"Many people laid down their lives in that terrible conflict.
“许多人在这场可怕的战争中丧生。
"They fought so we could live in peace, at home and abroad.
“正是他们的奋斗,才让国内外的我们得以拥有平静安康的生活。
"They died so we could live as free people in a world of free nations.
正是他们的牺牲,才让我们可以在自由国家的世界中作为自由人生活。
"They risked all so our families and neighbourhoods could be safe."
“正是他们不顾一切风险,才让我们的家庭和邻里拥有安全。”
"As I now reflect on my father's words and the joyous celebrations, which some of us experienced first-hand, I am thankful for the strength and courage that the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and all our allies displayed.
“当我现在回顾我在第一时间感受到的父亲在欧战胜利之时的话,和那欢庆活动的场面,我想要感谢联合王国,英联邦和我们所有盟国表现出的力量和勇气。

"The wartime generation knew that the best way to honour those who did not come back from the war, was to ensure that it didn't happen again.
“战时一代人知道,向那些没能从战场中回来的人致敬的最好方法,就是确保战事不再发生。
"The greatest tribute to their sacrifice is that countries who were once sworn enemies are now friends, working side by side for the peace, health and prosperity of us all."
“向他们的牺牲作出的最好致敬方式就是,曾经发誓成为敌人的国家现在是盟友,为我们所有人的和平,健康与繁荣而共同努力。
"Today it may seem hard that we cannot mark this special anniversary as we would wish.
“今天,或许很难像我们希望的那样相聚纪念这个特殊的周年纪念日。
"Instead we remember from our homes and our doorsteps.
取而代之的是,我们在自己的家中和家门口共同纪念。
"But our streets are not empty; they are filled with the love and the care that we have for each other.
“但是我们的街道并不空旷;它们充满了我们彼此之间的爱与关怀。
"And when I look at our country today, and see what we are willing to do to protect and support one another, I say with pride that we are still a nation those brave soldiers, sailors and airmen would recognise and admire.
“当我今天看到我们的国家,看到我们愿意为彼此保护和支持而做的事情时,我自豪地表示,我们仍然是一个勇敢的士兵,水手和飞行员会认可并钦佩的国家。
"I send my warmest good wishes to you all."
“我向大家致以最诚挚的祝愿。”
最后,谢谢所有为世界和平、民众安康作出无畏奉献的人们。愿世界永远和平,愿我们早日走出疫情,获得新的胜利~
KEEP CALM & CARRY ON……
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