Thursday, November 12, 2020

Memorial

The National War Memorial stands downtown, in the very heart of Confederation Square. I went down one day in October to photograph it. Fall colours were showing, and some of the grounds were fenced off for maintenance work.


For several years now there has been an honour guard during the days for months, between early April and the day before Remembrance Day. Because of Covid, they started later this year, but members of each branch of the armed forces stand guard here, changing hourly.


The Memorial was dedicated in 1939 by King George VI, in commemoration of those who served in the First World War. Over the years since, the Memorial has had further dates inscribed: for the Second World War, the Korean War, the South African War, and the Afghan War. This is a place of commemoration for the Canadian dead of all wars and military service.


At the base of the Memorial is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a Canadian who fell at the Battle of Vimy Ridge during the First World War. There were flowers at the Tomb on the morning I came here.


The Memorial, topped with allegorical figures representing peace and liberty, includes a series of servicemen and women representing each branch of the military as it existed in the Great War, including two horses. Each is larger than life.


I chose to come on the morning of October 22nd. This was the sixth anniversary of a tragedy that took place here. One of the guards, a corporal named Nathan Cirillo, was shot and killed by a madman while on duty here at the Memorial. A plaque commemorating him lies at the east side of the property. People had already started placing flowers.


Here we have views of the background of the Memorial.

26 comments:

  1. Hello,

    The memorial is beautiful. Love the fall colors and trees!
    Take care, enjoy your day!

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  2. ...Ottawa has some lovely memorials!

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  3. It's a wonderful memorial. Thank you for sharing it.

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  4. Yes, that is an impressive memorial...

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  5. The trees in your photos are looking very pretty.

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  6. A lot of history and memories are included in this one monument.

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  7. Remembering those who fought for liberty is always a worthy endeavor. A sculptural monument is very good to see.

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  8. Thank you for celebrating those who have gone before.

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  9. @Eileen: thank you!

    @Tom: that we do.

    @DJan: you're welcome.

    @Catarina: definitely.

    @RedPat: I think so.

    @Sharon: that they were. The leaves are gone now.

    @Red: that's quite true.

    @Barbara: this one does it well.

    @Happyone: quite so.

    @Jennifer: you're welcome.

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  10. Don't know what to comment, I hate everything which has to do with a war.

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  11. Wonderful memorial and excellent photos

    Live each moment with love,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor

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  12. Still some vivid fall colors, I see.

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  13. What a beautiful memorial and I am glad the flowers and remembrances started early
    MB

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  14. Thank you William for documenting this memorial, as we are remembering all those who served on this veterans day.

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  15. interesting to read. hope u r having a super nice week. good weather here. what kind of snow will we all get this year?? i sure hope we get some ... but i might just have to enjoy your snow fall like always. thanks for all your sharing. ( ;

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  16. Can’t see that National War Memorial without thinking of Corporal Cirillo, who died there.

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  17. William - it is so important to remember those who have given their lives to protect our freedoms. What a shame about the corporal who lost his life to a madman; this sort of thing happens all too often in the U.S., and I dream that one day we will bring about meaningful changes to gun legislation.

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  18. I always love seeing this Memorial sculpture William, it really is superb💙

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  19. It is a very nice memorial.
    The Autumnal/Fall colours in your photographs are nice to see.

    All the best Jan

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  20. @Gattina: and sometimes it is necessary.

    @Bill: it certainly is.

    @Carol: thanks.

    @Revrunner: when I took the shots, yes.

    @MB: they were appropriate on that day.

    @Jean-Marie: thank you.

    @Gemel: I think so too.

    @Beth: thanks.

    @Marie: indeed.

    @Magiceye: definitely.

    @Angie: it was a shocking moment.

    @Cloudia: thank you.

    @Grace: that it is.

    @Jan: thanks!

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