 When mighty army, mighty army meets, the Titan struggle knows no limitation. Small victories, large stalemates, small defeats led to the final triumph for our nation, led to this day, our VE celebration. Today we pause that struggle to retell. We cast our minds to 1945 when soldiers, sailors, Air Force personnel strove to keep freedom and liberty alive, ours to ensure these shall forever thrive. And these were common folk, like friends we know. On land, in air, at sea, they joined the strife, melded together to face a common foe. They freely gave their all in prime of life. For them we bang the drum and play the fife. We mark their sacrifice. For those who fell we mourn, nor lightly do we weep. Those who returned again, their tale to tell, their memory forever we should keep with praise profound and gratitude most deep. And what of those still living on this day? They most at risk now in this new world war. We thank them and for their health we pray. Keep safe, keep comfortable, and even more, know you are part of history's worthy law. Our joy is tempered in this celebration. A different army fights a different foe. You too we honor in this commemoration, your bravery and fighting spirit show. You too for us face pain and death and woe. This is VE Day. We celebrate defeat of bigotry, intolerance and force. We honor all whose praises we repeat, who lived or died in battle's ugly course, whose strife became for us our living's source. Victory is hard. Our joy is cut with pain. We must recall the vanquished too were men. But for today triumphant be our strain, remembering all who fought in that great then. So let today and every day be when we will remember them.