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Monday 11 November 2013

Spot: memorial.

Today is Remembrance Day in Britain and in many countries around the world (though some other countries give it different names, such as Armistice Day).

What are we remembering? Those killed in wars.

In St Albans, a town not far from where I live, there are memorials to commemorate the First World War dead of each few streets.


World War I Street Memorial, Verulam Road
World War I Street Memorial, Verulam Road, St Albans, England. Photo by Ian Capper
This memorial commemorates the dead of Cross Street, College Street, Queen Street, New England Street, and Verulam Road itself. They're all quite small streets.
 
I'm very much afraid that there will almost certainly be some kind of a memorial near you. Some are small and simple, like the one above, and commemorate many people; some are huge and grand and commemorate only one:
 
File:Albert Memorial.jpg
This is the Albert Memorial in London.
 
Some are beautiful:
 
Taj Mahal 2012.jpg
Taj Mahal, built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
 
Some are of people hardly remembered at all:
 
File:Part of the graveyard of the Old Church Penallt - geograph.org.uk - 473866.jpg
Old Church Penallt. Photo by Roy Parkhouse.
 
On this particular Remembrance Day, as well as those killed in wars, I'm going to remember the people of the Philippines.
 
All strength to those living, and all peace to those who have been killed.
 
Word To Use Today: remembrance. This word comes from the Old French remembrer, from the Latin memor, mindful. 


 

3 comments:

  1. Memorials are wonderful stepping-stones to the past, no matter the size.
    I must say though that I can't remember being as touched by one for a long time as I was by the simple street memorial shown in the first picture,
    I think even my dad, who served in World War II, and who hated a fuss of any kind, would've approved of such a quiet, yet meaningful memorial.

    Remembering all who have served and are serving their country.

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  2. Love this memorial post and will join you belatedly in remembering the dead of the Phlippines...

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Adele. I think we humans collectively may have a duty of not forgetting.

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