Mr Letford said, “This will be a tremendous occasion that will reflect the depth of feelings that exist in Dundee for the sacrifice made by so many to ensure the future of freedom.

“This event aims to not only remember those who gave lives, but to celebrate the end of the war in Europe.

“That was a time of great joy for so many people, and it is important that this anniversary is marked in some style.”

The civic procession, led by the City of Dundee Sea Cadets Bugle Band, will leave City Square for St Andrew’s Cathedral at 12.50 pm on Sunday.

At 1.30 pm, there will be a Drumhead Service in the Cathedral. Bishop Vincent Logan of Dunkeld and the Revered Bob Wightman, chaplain to the Ex-Services Association, will conduct the service. Mr McConnell will read a lesson.

At 2.25 pm, Mr McConnell, Mr Letford and the president of the Combined ex-Services Association, Victor Herd, will lay wreaths at the Garden of Remembrance.

From 2.35 pm to 4.30 pm there will be entertainment in City Square featuring the Dundee Reel and Strathspey Orchestra and Dundee Junior Showtime.

Meanwhile, across Scotland hundreds of veterans will take part in special events to mark VE Day, which this year has added poignancy as it will be the last major anniversary in which most veterans will be able to participate.

There will be parades in Inverness, Dunfermline, Troon and Elgin, where locals will be treated to a flypast featuring Tornados from the RAF bases at Lossiemouth and Kinloss.

In Aberdeen, more than 400 people will attend a VE Day party at the Beach Ballroom.

Guests will be entertained by a “Hits from the Blitz” concert, at which photographs and memorabilia will go on display.

On Saturday, former soldiers and bands will parade through Forfar before assembling for a special open-air ceremony at Station Park.

Many communities have organised remembrance services.

Sheena Livingstone, chief executive of Veterans Scotland, today encouraged Scots to take part in the commemorations.

“Thousands of people from Scotland took part in the war, and today we remember those that have now gone and those who are still with us,” she said.

“I encourage Scots young and old to take part in the VE Day commemorations and remember the sacrifices made by so many.”

The World War II Commemoration Team is a working group involving the Scottish Executive, Veterans Scotland, MoD and the Big Lottery Fund, which is organising and co-ordinating the commemorations in Scotland.

* The East of Scotland branch of the Royal Marines Association is to celebrate the anniversary with a dance in the Arbroath British Legion next Friday.

Later in the year, on Remembrance weekend, the branch will be represented by around 100 members at parades at Fort William and Spean Bridge, where they will join Commando Associations from around the globe and march up the hill to the Commando Memorial.

For the first time, George Mechen, the branch standard-bearer, will take his place at the front of the parade on the west coast.