The Last Post Ceremony, Saturday 14 March 2020

In response to the growing incidence of the coronavirus, from Saturday 14 March 2020 and until further notice the following measures will apply to the daily Last Post Ceremony at 2000 hours under the Menin Gate Memorial in Ieper:

• The ceremony will be restricted to an absolute minimum; namely, the playing of the Last Post as a tribute to the soldiers of the Commonwealth who fell for our freedom.

• There will be no recital of the Binyon Exhortation and the Kohima Epitaph and there will be no possibility to lay wreaths.

• The participation of bands, choirs and pipers will likewise not be possible. Efforts will be made to contact all groups who are registered to attend in this capacity.

• After the ceremony, it will no longer be possible to talk to the buglers or to take photographs with them.

People who still wish to attend this shortened ceremony are asked to comply with the following safety precautions:

• As far as a possible, maintain a minimum distance of 1 ½ meters between yourself and the people around you.

• If you show any signs of infection (high temperature, a persistent cough, breathlessness or other respiratory difficulties), please do NOT come to the Menin Gate, but seek immediate medical advice.

These measures have been taken in collaboration with the City of Ieper and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and will remain in force for as long as is necessary.

Because the situation is changing quickly, so that new regulations are also being issued with increasing frequency, the City of Ieper, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the Last Post Association, will continue to evaluate these measures and will amend them as and when necessary. Any changes will be communicated through the Association’s various channels of communication.

The Last Post Association wishes to thank everyone for their willingness to comply with these measures and thereby prevent the further spread of the virus.