IMG_5832.CR2: 30D, EF‑S 10 – 22mm 1:3.5 – 4.5 @ 10mm, 6s, f/11, 100 ISO
“Pause and reflect here upon the service and the sacrifice of thousands of Canadians in war and peace. Inside, the headstone from the First World War grave of Canada’s Unknown Soldier is a tangible reminder of the human cost of war.”
Located in the foyer of the Canadian War Museum, Memorial Hall is a quiet public space for rest and reflection. Accessed via a narrow walkway, the room rests at the intersection of two axes that form the basis of the Museum’s orientation. The east-west axis extends to the Peace Tower, while the north-south axis parallels the path of the sun across the building on November 11 (Remembrance Day).
The concrete walls, grooved with large offset rectangles, are reminiscent of the rows of white grave markers in Allied war cemeteries. The headstone of the Unknown Soldier is the lone artifact, a simple bench the only furniture. On Remembrance Day at 11:00 a.m., sunlight refracts through a single window on to the headstone of the Unknown Soldier. A reflecting pool, which is also visible from the Foyer, instills an atmosphere of tranquil silence. A peaceful and undecorated space, Memorial Hall is a place for quiet remembrance of the sacrifices made by those who have and continue to serve Canada.
The text in quotes appears on a plaque outside Memorial Hall. The remainder is a slightly edited version of the Canadian War Museum web page about Memorial Hall.
Shawn
I had a cousin who died in Vietnam and a few friends that have served in the Canadian military, with tours to Bosnia, Somalia, and now Afghanistan. I have seen what they and their families go through to protect us. Those thoughts scare me!