Saturday, November 10, 2012

Remembrance Day – Every Day!

Menin Gate, Ypres (Ieper) Belgium
Photo copyright Melanie Wills


We take a few minutes every November 11 to be mindful of and thank those who endured and sacrificed so much during the wars.  But every evening the people of Ypres (Ieper) commemorate those who died in the liberation of Belgium during the Great War of 1914-1918. In a city lovingly rebuilt from rubble to resemble its former medieval splendour, a ceremony is held at the Menin Gate, where 55,000 names of those Allied troops who have no known grave are inscribed. Nearly 7000 of them are Canadians. Aside from a few years during WW2, this moving homage has been taking place every day since 1928! It includes the playing of The Last Post, which you can see in this YouTube video. If you have 8 minutes, watch this lovely short film as well. For more information about the Menin Gate ceremony and its history, visit this website. And if you have a chance, do go there and experience it yourself. My family and I will never forget our trip to Ypres!

You might also be interested in my WW1 website – Odd, Intriguing, Surprising Facts about WW1 - which is being used by educators and researchers worldwide.

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