Last Voices

 I try to get to the War Museum each year before Remembrance Day, as I find it easier to photograph without so much crowds. This year it couldn't be helped, and I walked out to the Museum after the national service, taking a couple of shots as I approached. The snow was a welcome sight.

The special exhibit on right now into early January is a poignant one. Last Voices Of The Second World War features the stories of veterans, many of which are audibly recorded, telling their stories of life during and after the war. I found it very moving.

Coming home wasn't the same for everyone. Indigenous veterans like Tommy Prince, who was the most decorated soldier in the famous Devil's Brigade saw discrimination after the war. Japanese descended Canadian soldiers saw the same.

The same applied for black veterans and women, all of whom had served with distinction.

These documents speak volumes. At left is a train ticket, while the others are discharge documents.

The train ticket was that of a soldier who spent the war as a prisoner of war after the fall of Hong Kong and finally was able to return home. That ticket brought him the rest of the way home, and he held onto it.

Discharge documents included things like certifications. If your work as a soldier had transferred over into a trade, such documents were your way into that trade in civilian life.

On The March

 I attended the national service at the War Memorial on Remembrance Day. Two days prior, a snowstorm had left snow around the city, and it was of course still here. My preferred spot for these days is a spot on the northwest corner of Confederation Square. During the vigil beforehand, while people gather, a member of each service- Army, Navy, Air Force, and Royal Canadian Mounted Police- stand at post at the corners of the War Memorial.

The pipes and drums lead the flag bearers and veterans in from Wellington Street, while the bulk of other marchers come in from their mustering point in the Cartier Square Drill Hall to the south.

Flag bearers are a mix of veterans and cadets.

The ceremony is deeply meaningful, with traditions like the 21 gun salute, the moment of silence, the laying of wreaths, music, recitation of appropriate verse from veterans in three languages, and remarks by military chaplains, including a benediction. Among those wreaths that are placed is one by the Silver Cross Mother- a tradition dating back a century, and this year with a mother whose son died in active duty in the Afghan War. The pipes and drums lead the way out for the veterans afterwards. Around eleven, what had started as an overcast day started to see some breakup in the clouds, with blue sky showing itself here and there.

Behind the veterans march active duty servicemen and women, both specific units and from each branch of the service locally, given that the capital is a headquarters city. It even includes the RCMP.

Odds And Ends

I have some odds and ends from the last few weeks today. I start in late September, when I was walking away from the War Museum. A flock of Canada geese were on the lawn, having lunch. No doubt migrants from points further north, heading south.

In early October, I attended a couple of football games at Lansdowne Park. One was a CFL game, where the resident Redblacks have had a rough season, plagued by injuries. Post-game, fans are allowed on the field.

A couple of days later, an annual tradition. The Panda Game is a football game between Carleton University and the University of Ottawa, held here at Lansdowne each year, drawing in students, alumni, and staff from both universities. It is a busy ingress at each of the stadium's gates.

I walked around a bit during the game. This year, Carleton won, which is a good thing. 

A few nights later, I was back at Lansdowne, on a quiet night, where I took this shot from the east end of the property, towards the stadium.

Then I looked south, taking in the familiar sight of the Orion constellation. Its characteristic line of three stars, representing the belt of the mythological hunter, is the easiest way to find it in the night sky. It starts appearing in the northern hemisphere in the fall, and stays through the winter until dropping below the horizon. Seeing it for the first time in the fall is like seeing an old friend.

And here we have the Aberdeen Pavilion at night.

I was in Centretown one day, and decided to walk to make my bus connection. Along the way, I came to Dundonald Park to photograph fall colours, and came across this. I had seen work in the park last year on a section of the park fenced off, and then a number of weeks ago saw some pictures on social media.  This is in fact a splash pad, with two works of art at either end, by the artist Christopher Griffin, who works with concrete. Here we have a beaver.

And here we see a bear.

My last shot, taken early one morning, is of the Canadian Museum of Nature. The rising sun was illuminating the south face of the building, which I don't recall photographing before.

Remembrance Day

On the same day in October as my photos from the last three days, I stopped at the National War Memorial for autumn photos. This occupies the heart of Confederation Square, and is surrounded by landmarks like Parliament Hill, the Chateau Laurier, the Government Conference Center, the National Arts Centre, and the Chambers. Today, a national service is held for Remembrance Day, and I will be there. I am also marking the occasion today over at my writer's blog.

The Memorial, first dedicated to the fallen of the Great War, has since been rededicated to include those of the Second World War, Korean War, South African War, and Afghan War, as well as all those who have died in military service to the country. I moved along the perimeter, with fall colours in the trees to be found.

From April to today, during the day, members of the military services stand at post as guards, relieved each hour in a ceremony with great meaning and tradition. It is a tradition that has been going on for over a decade, and a good one to have.