In my first charge, Newbattle, we marked the 50th anniversary of VE Day with members of the Royal Army Medical Corps, leading the congregation and community in thanksgiving for deliverance from an evil that threatened the whole world 
As a family, we walked the Normandy beaches shortly after the 60th anniversary of D-Day, and were deeply moved by things that we saw and heard. Exploring the American cemetery near Omaha beach (& watching Saving Private Ryan) were powerful experiences that left us grateful for the sacrifices made by countless young women and men who gave their lives for our freedoms. The Nazi philosophy threatened the freedom of all and destroyed a continent. 
However, on the point of going to Germany to celebrate the wedding of two wonderful young friends, I am now conscious of a generation who are not responsible for the sins of their forebears and who do all they can to forge friendships across cultures and national barriers. While it is important for all of us to be aware of the history behind today’s VE Day commemoration, they (& their national leaders) should not constantly have to experience the discomfort of the UK’s near obsession with such commemorations. Let us rather build bridges of friendship that are more likely to make future conflicts less likely.