LONDON, United Kingdom – Today HM The Queen attended a memorial service in central London to mark the 70th anniversary of victory over Japan in World War II. She was guest of honor despite the media having uncovered a plot to blow up the event and kill her.
Her attendance at St Martin-In-The-Field church was in sharp contrast to President Barack Obama who did not appear to be commemorating American efforts to defeat the Japanese. Instead he chose to release a list of his favorite songs on the music website Spotify. A move that is likely be seen as disrespectful by veterans.
The President's Twitter account was silent for most of today, and he was reported to have been in Martha's Vineyard yesterday. At the same time, British Police were tightening security at the commemoration in London because of the terror threat from the Islamic State.
The concerns surrounded an undercover investigation by reported on Townhall earlier this week. Journalists from Sky News held discussions with a series of Islamic State terrorists, one of whom claimed a woman from Glasgow was ready to blow up today's event.
The Queen attended the event despite the threat to her life. She was joined by Prime Minister David Cameron and Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh. Two great-grandchildren of veterans lit candles, to remember the sacrifice of some and loss of others.
Although the vast majority of soldiers, sailors and airmen fighting the Japanese were American, liberals in the country are reticent to commemorate them. The use of nuclear weapons to end the war is often sighted as a reason for this. As a result, the country that risked less had by far the biggest event to remember the war.
Donal Blaney, CEO of the Young Britons Foundation said: "The White House has largely ignored Victory over Japan Day because winning wars doesn't fit with Obama's narrative of appeasement.
Recommended
"As a Brit I'm disgusted the Islamic State told us they'd kill our Queen. But I am proud that today she turned up anyway with thousands of my fellow countrymen to protect her.
"You’d think someone born within a few miles of Pearl Harbor would remember the horrors of the unprovoked Japanese attack on the United States in 1941 - and would want to commemorate America’s defeat of Japan 70 years ago this week.
“It’s as if Obama is embarrassed that America defeated totalitarian tyranny. Thank God WE have a Head of State that we can be proud of here in Britain.”
After the church service Prince Charles attended a second event on Horse Guards Parade, behind Downing Street. It featured a fly past by the Royal Airforce and was attended by representatives of the regiments that fought the Japanese.
It is estimated there were 71,000 British and Commonwealth casualties in the fight against Japan, this figure includes more than 12,000 prisoners of war who died in Japanese captivity. Many were starved and beaten as they were used as slave labor, building the infrastructure the Japanese needed to maintain their foothold in Asia.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member