Monday, November 10, 2014

Sentries At Their Post

Tomorrow is Remembrance Day, and I thought I would show one of my favourite photographs of the War Memorial, taken at night, the spotlights illuminating the statues of servicemen coming through the arch. The Memorial was unveiled by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to honour veterans of the First World War,  mere months before the start of the Second World War. It is now is a tribute for those lost in all wars Canadians have fought, and for those left behind.


44 comments:

  1. Love it, at my local drinking establishment at 6pm every night we stop, stand and respond to the Ode to the Fallen.

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  2. There are alot of Canadiand buried in this country, I come across many of their war graves in the churchyards I visit

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  3. There are a lot of Remembrances these days, never forget.

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  4. Because the Netherlands were neutral and didn't participate in the First World War, we don't have a Remembrance Day for that war.
    Today we have a Remembrance Day for the victims of flight MH17 which was shot out of the sky in July above Ukraine.

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  5. There's an interesting visual memorial in the episode of Foyle's War called "Eagle Day" where Foyle's son asks him about his experiences in the first war.

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  6. There's been a lot of activity here, too, for WWI remembrance. I like the light on this statue.

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  7. Such beautiful statues. Very dramatic, too, feels like they are about to start walking in illumination. Wonderful tribute for these servicemen and their loved ones.

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  8. A beautiful and moving picture indeed.
    God bless them all.

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  9. I like the monument, and the light makes it even more dramatic!

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  10. This is wonderful and I can see why you like it, William!

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  11. @Peter: a good way to pay tribute.

    @Bill: there are so many Commonwealth and Allied cemeteries scattered across the globe, particularly from the Second World War.

    @Marianne: and each year the number of veterans decline.

    @Sharon: that place lit at night is a wonder.

    @Jan: I think for you the end of the Second World War is marked in a very different way in May.

    @Revrunner: I've heard of the series but never saw it.

    @Bibi: there was an article in one of the papers I read about the last man killed in the first war, who happened to be a Canadian.

    @Tomas: thanks!

    @Tanya: it is.

    @Tamago: the artist who designed the concept did wonders with it.

    @Dina: thank you.

    @VP: lighting it up like this at night was the right thing to do. I don't know how long the lights are kept on at night.

    @EG: it stands out among my collection of shots there.

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  12. sad it was unveiled just before the next war. never-ending cycle...

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  13. There are a number of events taking place here tomorrow. I couldn't figure out why Collin had to work, until I was reminded of the very short distance between the restaurant and Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery....

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  14. The lighting makes this shot so intriguing!

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  15. Well done, William. It's evident why this is one of your favorite photos.

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  16. @Tex: apparently it was the first time Royals ever did a walkabout. The King and Queen were supposed to leave right after the ceremony, but stayed around and spent quite a bit of time speaking with veterans.

    @Norma: that would be a good reason for the place to stay open.

    @Judy: thanks!

    @Luis: thank you!

    @Lynette: every once in awhile, an image really sticks with you. This one did that for me.

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  17. Nicely done. Your Remembrance Day our Veterans Day----Remembering them all. MB

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  18. So important.

    Tomorrow is Armistice Day here. It's a holiday and I wonder if some of the younger generations realise just what it means...

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  19. It's going to be a particularly emotional Remembrance Day, tomorrow. And probably better guarded than ever before.

    Lovely capture of the Memorial.

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  20. Good one, William. Especially this year.

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  21. After seeing this photo on FaceBook, I was looking forward to seeing it in full on your blog. Wonderful image!

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  22. What an outstanding photo. It looks like they have walked out from the past into our hearts.
    We are having Veterans Day tomorrow.

    cheers, parsnip

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  23. It's a beautiful photo, William.

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  24. Lovely shot and lovely sculpture!

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  25. We are now into Remembrance Day. We remember on the 11th at 11am with one minute of silence. It is not a holiday though. Our main veteran's day is 25th April which we know as ANZAC Day. Lest we Forget.

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  26. @MB: thanks.

    @Ciel: many of our young generation are brought up with it through the schools. One good reason why, perhaps, it should not be a statuatory holiday.

    @Hilary: I'll be up there again tomorrow.

    @RedPat: thanks.

    @Lauren: thank you!

    @Parsnip: by any name, it is a poignant occasion.

    @Birdman: they did, yes.

    @Marleen: thank you.

    @Cheryl: thanks!

    @Halcyon: it photographs well at night.

    @Julie: I wonder if the Australian and New Zealand high commissions here mark that occasion.

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  27. It's important to remember such things. We have a tendency to become too complacent.

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  28. Appropriate. Our Veterans Day is tomorrow. Of course, the Post Office takes today. Wacky. Either have a real Holiday or not at all.

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  29. That picture is so beautiful. I love the lighting!

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  30. What a wonderful memorial William and you have photographed it beautifully. I love the glow.

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  31. A fitting tribute and the lighting was impressive, William.

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  32. I think Canada 'does' impressive and beautiful memorials.

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  33. I echo the others. Excellent. I'm not usually down there at night!

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  34. It's an excellent sculpture William, both in the daylight and here at night.

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  35. I agree with TexWis...sad that so many were memorialized on the eve of yet another war.

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  36. @Linda: true.

    @Mari: thanks.

    @Lois: thank you!

    @Jen: that it is.

    @Randy: definitely.

    @Denise: thanks!

    @Beatrice: thank you.

    @Mike: it does.

    @Jennifer: I'm often there in the evening.

    @Grace: it is!

    @Kay: true.

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