Witnessing the continual rise of right-wing populist, xenophobic  movements throughout Europe, I would say it is no longer a living memory over here....sadly.
Despite lofty pledges of 'never again',  the Nazis have slithered in through the back door, scape-goating and marginalizing ethnic minorities for all the world's problems.
Sounds familiar doesn't it? All too chillingly familiar.

I dread to think that my grandchildren may have to commemorate a different date for the liberation of Europe.

Incidently, my English grandfather landed in Normandy during Operation Overlord.
He survived.

What a life.
I am almost 50 now.
My grandfather was born around 1900.
He served in the first world war as a teen, lying about his age.
He was evacuated from the beaches at Dunkirk in 1940 and returned in June 1944.
So by the time he was in his forties, he, like millions of his contemporaries, had lived through two world wars.
Just imagine, some unfortunates witnessed there countries being completely devastated twice within their lifetimes.
It doesn't bear thinking about.

Now we have had 60 years of peace and prosperity, partially due to the success of the European Union.
And now the populists want to dismantle it, saying 'what good is it?'.
I guess the peace dividend just doesn't count anymore.
Well, I'm grateful I never had to go to war and I hope my two teenage sons never have to either.
I never dreamt I would ever actually fear they might have to but nowadays, I do. More and more....
It's 1932 in most of Europe and a lot of people who should know better are either sleeping or being pointed in the wrong direction.

This was not a political rant. Merely my morose thoughts prompted by Carabimero's thread.