The Last Post at the Menin Gate in Ypres

There was just one thing I wanted to do in Ypres: attend the Last Post.  While I've been several times in Ypres I've never been there at 8PM.  I follow The Last Post Association on social media and on special remembrance days I might watch a live stream of the Last Post ceremony. 


We had ensured and early dinner at the market square and noticed crowds walking towards the Menin Gate before 8 PM including 2 big groups of uniformed UK Scouts.  

At the gate we positioned ourselves amidst the big crowd that had gathered while the boys squeezed themselves forward next to the wreath layers.  I couldn't see the buglers at all but that was fine.  I've seen them plenty online and now it was about being there in the crowd, participating in a solemn ceremony that gives honour to all fallen in the First World War. 
It's so touching to see so many people show up for a daily remembrance that has now taken place for almost 100 years (since 1928 I just read with the interruption of the 2nd world war). 

While I could see the buglers of the Last Post Association through the many phones in front of me in the crowd, I let the music tones touch me.  It's so powerful. 

In solemn silence, the scouting groups (The Manchester Scouts and the Vimy Foundation) put down some flower wreaths after which another lament played, after which the crowd leaves in silence. 

We took the time to walk the walls that list 54,395 names of fallen soldiers that have no graves. (another 35000 names are written on a monument on the Tyne Cote Graveyard, due out of lack of space at the monumental Menin Gate).  You can only be very silent there... Some names have little poppies or remembrance markers left by their relatives. 

Across from the Menin Gate is the office / store of the Commonwealth war graves commission.  In that building is a very cute and accurate Lego copy of the Menin Gate with its Last Post ceremony.