Every year, the Royal British Legion supports Remembrance events across the UK.
We encourage local and regional communities to produce Remembrance commemorations of their own. At the core of these events is the Act of Remembrance.
The Act of Remembrance is brief and non-religious, making it exceptionally well-suited to personalised commemorations. You may assemble whatever readings, music or other elements you wish to accompany the Act of Remembrance in order to make your own ceremony or event relevant to your particular community.
RBL doesn't prescribe what these should be but services should be inclusive of all members of the community.
The Act of Remembrance consists of the following:
The Exhortation is recited:
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
The Last Post is sounded.
(A Piper Lament may be included in Scotland.)
The Two Minute Silence is observed.
Reveille is sounded.
The Kohima Epitaph is recited (optional):
When you go home, tell them of us and say,
For your tomorrow, we gave our today.
Useful resources for your Act of Remembrance:
- Two Minute Silence: this file includes the Last Post at the beginning and Reveille to end the silence
- You may also want to consider ordering a wreath for your ceremony
