Friday, September 25, 2015

The John McCrae Memorial

The John McCrae Memorial was erected this year in the park on Green Island. It commemorates the Canadian doctor and officer serving in the First World War on the Western Front, the soldier and poet who wrote In Flanders Fields. The sculpture is by the artist Ruth Abernethy.

45 comments:

  1. This is called history in detail.

    Tomás.

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  2. That looks like a wonderful memorial. I've said it before; the Canadians do memorials so well!! And who isn't moved by that poem?

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  3. Good bit on wicki about him
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCrae

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  4. Oh, that is such a famous poem. so often used at remembrances. Very nice sculpture.

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  5. Now there's a poem that has gone around the world.

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  6. That is a beautiful sculpture! I love the flowers at his foot.

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  7. Hi William, it is a very beautiful and detailed sculpture!

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  8. Very nice! He was a multi-talented person who used those talents in the service of others. You can't say that about very many people these days.

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  9. Nice memorial, didn't know there was one on Ottawa. Out kids went to john McCrae school in Guelph, across the street from John McCrae Museum!

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  10. i like the poppies featured with him.

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  11. A beautiful sculpture in beautiful surroundings. And a haunting poem.

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  12. A statue with arms and legs. Cool beans.

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  13. Great details. Love your new header.

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  14. I love that poem.... Like your new header, too. No colors like that here yet.

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  15. @Tomas: indeed!

    @VP: I think the handwriting is even his. That would have taken great skill by the sculptor.

    @Cloudia: a fitting addition to the sculpture.

    @Bill: considering it is the centennial year of that poem, definitely. And I've added on a link- I'd forgotten to do so yesterday!

    @Mike: it's a poem that transcends borders.

    @Marianne: it might refer to the First World War, but the poem speaks to war in general, hence its great staying power.

    @Revrunner: oh yes.

    @Tamago: they were the right touch, particularly painted.

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  16. @Hilary: the artist did wonderful work with this.

    @Nancy: it is indeed.

    @Lowell: he was a fascinating figure in history. And his legacy lives on.

    @Furry Gnome: I'll have to visit the McCrae house the next time I'm out there. I know that while he's buried overseas, his name is on a gravestone in the family plot at Woodlawn Cemetery.

    @Tex: me too.

    @Debs: it is a very haunting poem.

    @Whisk: thanks!

    @Jose: thank you!

    @Bibi: it is indeed a wonderful poem. Very poignant.

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  17. That is a really nice tribute to him, William!

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  18. This monument has great details like the poppies and the poem.

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  19. This sculpture is fantastic, and it is a good memorial of this man.

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  20. How many statues are there in Ottawa, anyway?

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  21. Well, it took long enough!! I'd have thought we'd have this memorial years ago!
    Jane x

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  22. Great shots (as always! :). Lovely tribute to McCrae.

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  23. @RedPat: it is. The same artist did the Oscar Peterson sculpture, and I believe a John A. Macdonald one as well.

    @Sharon: I was quite pleased. I knew it was up there, but hadn't been that way until summer, and I was impressed by the result.

    @Jan: the poem is what strikes me the most about it.

    @EG: I think so!

    @Linda: so do I.

    @Halcyon: that it is.

    @Orvokki: the sculptor really brought out the best in this work.

    @Norma: a whole lot of them! I doubt I'll ever photograph all of them... I'd have to know about all of them!

    @Jane and Chris: it's fitting though that in the centennial year of the poem one turns up here. It's a great location too.

    @Meradeth: thank you!

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  24. A wonderful sculpture William and what a person...

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  25. John Mcrae has to be a Canadian favorite. It's nice to see a memorial for him.

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  26. ok, i saw some one else say poppies ... i thought that was what the blooms were. very cool. i enjoy statues like this ... those details. down to the shoe laces. way awesome. someone is smart! ( :

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  27. I like this memorial very much. It's quite nice.

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  28. A thoughtful, appealing memorial. Love the wistful expression created on the soldier's face.

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  29. She did a great job. I love how the red poppies.. pop.

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  30. You sure get around! Are you going to the GG's open house today?!

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  31. He looks as if he may get up and walk away.

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  32. History for the eyes of the people. Great!

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  33. P.S. it is the one poem I can still recite from memory. And yet, my husband, who went to French school in Cornwall says he never learned it.

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  34. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  35. @Geoff: he was exceptional.

    @Red: this is a good one.

    @Mari: I think so.

    @Beth: it's well done.

    @Kay: it is indeed.

    @Gemma: so do I.

    @Hilary: she did great.

    @Jennifer: I've been several times!

    @Shelly: he does look life like.

    @Carolann: indeed!

    @Jackie: I can recite it too.

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