No drop of rain was going to dampen the spirit behind this Victory in Europe 70th anniversary event, writes John Silverman.

During November in New York's Manhattan there's been held since 1929 an annual Veterans' Day Parade honouring both living and deceased US servicemen which my daughter and I happened to witness by chance a dozen or so years ago.

Being the USA there was, of course, the whole '76-trombones' shebang but I remember thinking at the time, and since, how right it was to not only remember the dead but also have opportunity to truly celebrate and applaud those service folk who had participated, fought and survived, perhaps severely disabled as a result.