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megram - 55NovOttawa - Index

PHOTO: JOHN BOTTRIELL
because it stands alone on a ridge, rising high above the
surrounding countryside, which flows away from it like
a smooth, green river.The parking lot is quite a distance
from the monument so you approach it on foot, seeing
it first as two huge shimmering pylons, soft-edged like a
mirage, outlined against the sky. It has a looming presence.
But the closer you get the sharper are the edges
and the purity of the white stone becomes evident.And
so the sculptures come into focus and they give the
monument both the symbolism and the humanity that
make it so remarkable.
At the base of the pylons is a young dying soldier
representing the Spirit of Sacrifice, and beside him the
Torch Bearer, harking back to John McCrae’s famous
poem written during World War I.Around the other side,
at the front of the monument, looking out over the plain
toward the east, is the largest sculpture on the monument.
It is a sorrowing figure of a woman, representing
the young nation of Canada, mourning her dead. It is a
wonderful piece of work — the details of the draping,
the hood, the expression on the face all marvellously
expressive and bringing the stone to life. It was carved
from a single, 30-tonne block.
There are other sculptures, high on the pylons.The
represent Truth and Knowledge and Justice, with Peace
at the very top lifting his arm to the sky.There is a purity
in the massive form and delicate renderings of the
sculptures that is very moving.
The two white pylons, one with the maple leaves of
Canada, the other with the fleurs-de-lys of France, symbolize
the sacrifice of both countries.And on the walls
of the monument are carved the names of 11,285
Canadian soldiers who were killed in France but who
were never found.
The monument, which took 11 tortuous years to
build,was unveiled on July 26,1936,by King Edward VIII
in the presence of the President of France and over
50,000 Canadian and French veterans and their families.
It was given by the people of Canada in memory of the
60,000 soldiers who died in World War I. It was different
from war memorials that had been built before because
it did not celebrate any victory or glorify any military
leader. It was dedicated instead to those who had died
defending peace and freedom.
Even Hitler was impressed by the monument. He
visited it and the preserved trenches nearby in June
Left: View of the Vimy monument from the front with the figure of the sorrowing woman representing Canada
standing in endless contemplation of her dead.
Walter Allward created this sculpture of a young dying
soldier to represent the sacrifice of all those Canadians
who died in the Great War. It is reminiscent of those
done in earlier times by MichaelAngelo.
November/December 2008 • Ottawa 37 • Fifty-Five Plus Magazine
PHOTO: BARBARA BOTTRIELL