Solemn

 Starting off today, cabinets include various pieces of equipment and uniforms from the Afghan conflict.

This dramatic painting, which we had a look at yesterday, is by Douglas Laing, titled War: Canadian Soldiers In Afghanistan.

One last picture from the exhibit and the gallery, a large scale photograph of an Afghan child interacting with a Canadian soldier. It's a tragedy that of whatever good was done in the country, it's for nothing, as the Taliban have returned to power with their sixth century world view and brutal intolerance for anything but that world view. The women and children of the country have returned to being subjugated by monsters.

The path takes us to Regeneration Hall, one of two architectural focal points in the Museum. Raymond Moriyama designed the new quarters for the Museum, which moved here in 2005. This large spike structure rising up from the body of the building has a direct view towards the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill, a deliberate gesture by Moriyama, who passed away recently.

Down below are a series of dramatic sculptures by Walter Allward. These are the half scale plaster casts that he incorporated into his masterpiece monument for Canadians who fell during the Battle of Vimy Ridge in the First World War. They are allegorical in nature, and represent the country's mourning its dead.