Today is Victory in Europe (VE) Day 2025, marking 80 years since the official surrender of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II in Europe.
It’s a day of remembrance and gratitude for the immense sacrifices made. To commemorate the day, we asked some of our staff & colleagues at Farnborough International what VE day means to them…
“I find memorial days like VE Day quite emotional. They offer a powerful opportunity to pause, reflect, and be truly grateful to those who gave everything — including their lives — to secure the freedoms we often take for granted today. Both of my grandfathers played a role in the war effort, and I think about them regularly. Thankfully, they survived, and I was fortunate enough to grow up enjoying their company, love and affection — something so many others did not have the same fortune to experience.”
– Ash Gasson, Director – Membership & Communications, ADS
“As we and our families celebrate our freedom on the 80th Anniversary of VE Day, we share our gratitude to our veterans and current serving military, and our thoughts are with those families who lost loved ones in the battle for this freedom. Thank you.”
– Julie Mears, Assistant Director – Delegations & Government Relations, Farnborough International
“We must never forget the huge sacrifices that our forebears made that led up to VE Day, 80 years’ ago today, to defend our fundamental rights from the powers of oppression that were threatening our ways of life, and the role that our Armed Forces, and those who serviced their needs, played to protect us all.”
– Brinley Salzmann, Director – Overseas & Exports, ADS
“VE Day for me is feeling humble and proud of the bravery of my forebears in the face of great adversary.
How many of us could say we could do the same risking everything for the greater good, leaving your family at home knowing you might not come back.”
– Daniel Lyons, Accounts Assistant, ADS
