SAD EVENT AT THE MENIN GATE

15th SEPTEMBER 2002

THE GALLERY OF SHAME

On 15th September 2002 the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres, which commemorates 55,000 soldiers from Britain and the Commonwealth who fell at Ypres and have no known grave, was host to a special event. Normally at 8pm each evening the men of the local fire brigade play the Last Post, in a moving tribute to all those who died. On this occasion the Menin Gate was used as a commercial launch for a book by the Belgian poet Lanoye, who has just published a volume in Flemish about WW1 poetry. During the event it is reported by several people who were there that Lanoye said,

“ ‘Dulce est decorum est pro patria morum’ is latin” said Lanoye, “ ‘it is good and sweet to die for your country’ says that poem. As we are in fact standing on British soil and again a war is threatening I dedicate willingly this poem to Tony Blair and George Bush.”

This turned it not just into a commercial event, but a political one. 

The Old Front Line web site considers this a grossly improper use of a national memorial; the sentiments were not suitable given the venue and we feel it is all part of an ever increasing trend to see the WW1 Battlefields as a 'theme park'.

Some photos from the event show, often in disturbing detail, what happened:

Part of the sound system obstructs the Register Box, containing the visitors book and memorial registers, making them unavailable.

The main stage prevents access to the upper level (north) and the wreath laying area.

A huge screen is placed on the city side of the memorial to rely the events to those outside.

The event begins in all it's "glory".

Update: lessons were obviously learnt from this event and I am pleased to report that nothing like it is ever likely to occur at the Menin Gate again.

Thanks to several contacts in Ypres who provided the quote and photos.