Menin Gate, War memorial in Ypres, Belgium.
The Menin Gate is a war memorial in Ypres, Belgium, with panels bearing the names of 54,896 Commonwealth soldiers who died in the Ypres Salient during World War I and have no known grave. The massive Portland limestone structure spans the road and forms a passageway, its interior walls covered with stone panels arranged by regiment and rank.
The present gate, designed by Reginald Blomfield, was unveiled on 24 July 1927 by Field Marshal Herbert Plumer. It replaced a medieval gate on the same spot, known in the 17th century as the Hangwaertpoort and later as the Menenpoort after the road to Menen. The original gate was demolished in 1862, leaving a 13-metre opening in the ramparts until the memorial was built.
Every evening at 8 PM, buglers stop traffic under the archway to play a short melody that has honored soldiers for nearly a century. The ceremony gathers locals and visitors who stand still while the sound echoes through the arch, turning the street into a memorial space for a few minutes.
Visitors can view the name panels freely, as the memorial remains open around the clock and still functions as a street passage. Those seeking a specific name will find the panels organized by regiment, making orientation easier.
The Last Post ceremony began on 2 July 1928. When the German occupation stopped it on 20 May 1940, it was relocated to Brookwood Military Cemetery in Surrey, England, and it resumed at the Menin Gate on 6 September 1944 while fighting for Ypres was still ongoing. The ceremony also continued during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
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