Wreath laying
The Shrine of Remembrance hosts more than 130 official commemorative servcies each year. The majority of these ceremonies occur in the Sanctuary or at a Remembrance Tree and its attendant memorial plaque. They are held to remember the service of Australian men and women, particularly Victorians, in times of war and peace.
Whilst each service is unique, each contains the following elements:
- Laying of the wreath/wreaths
- Recitation of the fourth verse of Binyon’s “Ode to the Fallen”.
- The sounding of “The Last Post” on a trumpet or bugle only.
- A period of silence
- “Lest We Forget” (said by the MC, then repeated by all present)
- The sounding of the “Rouse” on a trumpet or bugle only
- Playing of the Australian National Anthem
A listing of upcoming ceremonies can be found in our What's On: Ceremonies section.
Application to hold a Wreath Laying
All ceremonial activities at the Shrine of Remembrance must be approved by the Trustees. Organisations wishing to hold a service should contact the Co-ordinator, Visitor Services for further information.
The following policies are applied to all ceremonial activities at the Shrine of Remembrance: