July 10, 2005
WWII Day
A Lancaster bomber dropped 1m poppies over the crowds in a flypastOne million poppies have been dropped on thousands of people gathered in the Mall for Commemoration Day, marking 60 years since the end of World War II.Posted by Ithildin at July 10, 2005 5:02 PM | PROCURE FINE OLD WORLD ABSINTHEPart of a flypast of World War II aircraft, the poppies were released by a Lancaster Bomber over The Mall as the Queen and Royal Family looked on.
The Queen earlier addressed the crowd, speaking of the "present difficult days for London" after Thursday's bombings.
She said the people of the war generation had set an example.
In her address, she told those gathered in Horse Guard's Parade that the years of war had not been in vain - but sadly, it could not be claimed the world had been free from conflict or terror since 1945.
"It does not surprise me that during the present difficult days for London, people turn to the example set by that generation, of resilience, humour, sustained courage, often under conditions of great deprivation," she said.
"That example, and those memories, should be kept alive by younger generations as they in turn strive to keep the peace in our troubled world."
