To celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Victory in Europe, Ards and North Down Borough Council will be holding a series of commemorative events, which will take place on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 May.
Joining the National Commemoration Programme, the events will give people the opportunity to reflect and remember this momentous date, marking 70 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe.
On Friday 8 May there will two commemorative Beacons lit, one in Bangor and one in Ballyhalbert. The programme will consist of a fanfare to announce the start of the lighting ceremony, followed by a short tribute led by a veteran and member of the Clergy. In conjunction with the national programme, the beacons will be lit at 9.30pm. The beacon in Bangor will be lit on the Central Pier, Bangor, which can be viewed from the Eisenhower Pier and Pickie Pier and the one lit in Ballyhalbert, will be at the Harbour car park. The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Alderman Alan Graham will officiate in Bangor and the Deputy Mayor Councillor Carl McClean, will officiate in Ballyhalbert. Over 100 beacons will be lit across the UK to mark Victory in Europe on the same date.
On the following day, Saturday 9 May, a Wreath Laying Ceremony and Service will take place at 11am at the War Memorial, Ward Park, Bangor, led by Reverend Charles McMullan. Also at 11am in Bangor, in keeping with the national celebrations, listen out as church bells ring out across the town to mark this momentous time in history. A wreath laying ceremony will also take place at 12.30pm at the Cenotaph, Newtownards.
At 2.30pm on the same day, a VE Commemoration Parade in conjunction with The Royal British Legion will leave The Town Hall, Bangor, and will include a mixture of approximately 500 veterans and serving officers led by the Band of the Royal Irish Regiment. A salute will be taken at Trinity Presbyterian Church on Main Street. The parade will then continue down Main Street, proceed back around to High Street, past the back of The Flagship Centre and will finish at The Royal British Legion on Hamilton Road.
Speaking about the VE Day events: The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Alderman Alan Graham said: I am extremely proud to be part of these events, remembering such an important date in the history of our nation. I look forward to joining with the many veterans and serving officers who will be on parade on May 9 and hope that the people of The Borough will come out to support them.”