2020年5月8日,是第二次世界大戰歐戰勝利75周年紀念日(Victory in Europe Day,簡稱VE Day)。
75年前的此時,1945年5月8日,納粹德國無條件投降,時任英國首相邱吉爾宣布歐洲戰爭結束。站在英國衛生部大樓陽臺上的邱吉爾,向群眾比出了堪稱經典的剪刀手。
75年後的今天,受新冠肺炎疫情影響,英國依然處於「封城」狀態,但英國女王伊莉莎白二世、查爾斯王儲、首相詹森以及皇家空軍都以自己的方式慶祝這一節日。
昨天上午11點,英國全國默哀兩分鐘,所有公眾集會被取消。
英國首相鮑裡斯,在首相府默哀。
查爾斯王儲與妻子卡米拉,在蘇格蘭身穿經典狩獵短裙服飾,以最高規格的致敬方式,緬懷逝去的生命。
英國皇家空軍「Red Arrows」飛機,呼嘯飛過倫敦上空,留下經典的紅白藍三色軌跡。
士兵們列隊以社交距離的列隊方式,紀念默哀。
晚9點,女王發表了新冠疫情期間第二次電視講話,傳遞出「永不放棄、永不絕望 」的主題。
這一時間,恰好與她的父親、已故國王喬治六世在1945年發表廣播講話、正式宣布盟軍勝利的時間,隔空吻合。
錄像中,女王特地在書桌上擺放了二戰時期的相片,仿佛是隔空與亡父的對話。
最初的75周年「歐戰勝利日」慶祝計劃包括有老兵遊行儀式。然而,這一切的一切因為疫情戛然而止。女王不忘藉此機會鼓勵民眾發揚二戰精神,她再次鼓舞民眾:英國最後一定能戰勝疫情。
「我們可能無法如願地紀念這個特殊日子,但我們在家中或家門口紀念它。」女王動情地表示:「我們的街道並非空空蕩蕩,街上充滿著我們對彼此的愛和關懷。」
除了每年一度的聖誕日外,女王正式講話極為罕見。在位68年,英國遭遇舉國危機、哀痛之際女王公開講話只有三次,加上新冠疫情中這兩次,這是第五次。
講話結束,女高音歌唱家凱薩琳·詹金斯在白金漢宮外緩緩唱響了二戰歌曲《我們會再相逢》,成千上萬名英國民眾,站在家門口一起合唱,畫面動人。
以下是女王講話的視頻與全文,讓我們共同欣賞:
"I speak to you today at the same hour as my father did, exactly 75 years ago.
75年前的今天此刻,我父親發表了演講,今天的同一時刻,我在這裡大家講話。
"His message then was a salute to the men and women at home and abroad who had sacrificed so much in pursuit of what he rightly called a 'great deliverance'.
「那時,他在講話中向國內外的各類人士致敬,這些人為了追求他所稱之為「偉大的拯救」,而付出了無數犧牲。
"The war had been a total war; it had affected everyone, and no one was immune from its impact.
「這場戰爭是一場全面的戰爭;它影響到了每一個人,沒有人能免受其影響。
"Whether it be the men and women called up to serve; families separated from each other; or people asked to take up new roles and skills to support the war effort, all had a part to play.
「無論是被徵召服役的男女;家庭彼此分離;還是人們被要求擔負起新的角色和技能以支持戰爭的努力,都奉獻著自己的力量。
"At the start, the outlook seemed bleak, the end distant, the outcome uncertain.
「一開始,前景似乎黯淡,終點遙遠,結果不確定。
"But we kept faith that the cause was right - and this belief, as my father noted in his broadcast, carried us through.
「但是我們堅信原因是對的,正如我父親在他的廣播中指出的那樣,這種信念使我們得以堅持下去。
"Never give up, never despair - that was the message of VE Day.
「永不放棄,永不絕望-這就是第二次世界大戰歐戰勝利紀念日 (Victory in Europe Day)向我們傳遞的信息。
"I vividly remember the jubilant scenes my sister and I witnessed with our parents and Winston Churchill from the balcony of Buckingham Palace."
「我依然生動地記得我妹妹和我與我們的父母和溫斯頓·邱吉爾在白金漢宮陽臺上目睹的歡樂場面。」
"The sense of joy in the crowds who gathered outside and across the country was profound, though while we celebrated the victory in Europe, we knew there would be further sacrifice.
「儘管慶祝歐戰勝利的同時,我們知道還會有更多的人犧牲,但大家聚集在全國各地的人群中共同慶祝,那種喜悅感是深遠的。
"It was not until August that fighting in the Far East ceased and the war finally ended.
「直到八月,遠東的戰鬥才停止,戰爭終於結束。
"Many people laid down their lives in that terrible conflict.
「許多人在這場可怕的戰爭中喪生。
"They fought so we could live in peace, at home and abroad.
「正是他們的奮鬥,才讓國內外的我們得以擁有平靜安康的生活。
"They died so we could live as free people in a world of free nations.
正是他們的犧牲,才讓我們可以在自由國家的世界中作為自由人生活。
"They risked all so our families and neighbourhoods could be safe."
「正是他們不顧一切風險,才讓我們的家庭和鄰裡擁有安全。」
"As I now reflect on my father's words and the joyous celebrations, which some of us experienced first-hand, I am thankful for the strength and courage that the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and all our allies displayed.
「當我現在回顧我在第一時間感受到的父親在歐戰勝利之時的話,和那歡慶活動的場面,我想要感謝聯合王國,大英國協和我們所有盟國表現出的力量和勇氣。
"The wartime generation knew that the best way to honour those who did not come back from the war, was to ensure that it didn't happen again.
「戰時一代人知道,向那些沒能從戰場中回來的人致敬的最好方法,就是確保戰事不再發生。
"The greatest tribute to their sacrifice is that countries who were once sworn enemies are now friends, working side by side for the peace, health and prosperity of us all."
「向他們的犧牲作出的最好致敬方式就是,曾經發誓成為敵人的國家現在是朋友,為我們所有人的和平,健康與繁榮而共同努力。
"Today it may seem hard that we cannot mark this special anniversary as we would wish.
「今天,或許很難像我們希望的那樣相聚紀念這個特殊的周年紀念日。
"Instead we remember from our homes and our doorsteps.
取而代之的是,我們在自己的家中和家門口共同紀念。
"But our streets are not empty; they are filled with the love and the care that we have for each other.
「但是我們的街道並不空曠;它們充滿了我們彼此之間的愛與關懷。
"And when I look at our country today, and see what we are willing to do to protect and support one another, I say with pride that we are still a nation those brave soldiers, sailors and airmen would recognise and admire.
「當我今天看到我們的國家,看到我們願意為彼此保護和支持而做的事情時,我自豪地表示,我們仍然是那些勇敢的士兵,水手和飛行員會認可並欽佩的國家。
"I send my warmest good wishes to you all."
「我向大家致以最誠摯的祝願。」
最後,謝謝所有為世界和平、民眾安康作出無畏奉獻的人們。願世界永遠和平,願我們早日走出疫情,獲得新的勝利~