Why?

[Sqad]

Why are we celebrating the Battle of Britain in a seemingly exaggerated way this year?

[Count-A-Strong]

70th anniversary.

[Sqad]

Count.....yes, but do we celebrate the BofB EVERY year?

[jno]

By the time we get to the 75th there won't be many survivors left. I expect this is the thought (perhaps unspoken) behind this year's ceremony.

[jackthehat]

Individually, possibly but not as a country.

I'm glad that 'the few' are being suitably honoured this year.

[Bobbisox]

I thought you loved planes and stuff yer miserable owld git ........;-0)

[Count-A-Strong]

If just a few young people take note and appreciate what 'the few' did then i think it's worth it. It was the pivotal point of the 20th century and this alone should make it worth remembering (I think 'celebrating' is the wrong word).

[Sqad]

JTH...Yes I agree.....but this year it seems a "bigger deal".....David Jason on TV etc.

[Sqad]

bobbi....I do.

Count ...I agree......but it should be EVERY year...this year seems more prominent.

[Bobbisox]

I think it should always be remembered in a big way, we owe these people so much

[Count-A-Strong]

I think it's a bit like birthdays sqad, all those with a 'nought' on the end are special as they mark a milestone.

[jno]

exactly, Count. It's like the concept of 'big' birthdays, when a new decade is reached. The difference between 49 and 50 is much bigger, psychologically, than between 50 and 51.

[Sqad]

Count aaaaaargh! that´s it.........just wondered.
Butch does David Jason do a Spitfire TV Doc every year.

The point of my question.........I have breakfast most mornings with a grand old chap who flew Blenheims during the war and he lead a squadron that attacked the Scharnhorst and Prinz Eugen in their dash up the channel in broad daylight.
He said " Why are we celebrating the Battle of Britain" this year and I "bumbled" an answer.(as I am prone to do)

[Sqad]

Count....in my opinion "celebrate" is the right word.

[jno]

you're quite right, this is more celebration of it going on than in most previous years. I think Count's explanation is correct.

[Count-A-Strong]

Ok sqad. I just thought that the deaths of hundreds of people (on both sides) should temper 'celebration' to 'commemorate'.

[Sqad]

Count ;-).....not me, I just think of me and mine.