Student voiceToday [July 8, 2015] we visited the Adegem Canadian Military War Cemetery, and while there I took notice to what was written on the gravestones, the statements left at the bottom.
When analyzing the gravestones I took into consideration of the several things. Nationally, some being Polish and French along with the mass number of Canadians. Also religion, most gravestones bearing the Christian cross, and few with the Jewish Star of David, and also few with no religious symbol. For a large majority of the gravestones, their parting message was positive or a salute from the family such as “May this solider rest in peace” and “Dear son. I who love you, sadly miss you, thoughts of you are ever near. Mother.” I found the statements from the family set with me the most and were quite sad. On some gravestones what was written was quite bitter in spite of the death of their son, seemingly it was done on purpose to show their displeasure towards their son’s death at the Canadian Military. Then apart from the positive and negative there were blank gravestones with no statement left. I took it as this was done on purpose, again going back to both positive and negative, leaving the gravestone empty as a sign of respect, that nothing can be said to commemorate the memory of their son. On the other end it is possible it is left blank as a protest, that they don’t want anything to be said to display their displeasure with the Canadian Military. Karter Kok, student Smiths Falls District Collegiate Institute Smiths Falls, Ontario |
GravestonesHow do loved ones remember those who served?
Click here to visit the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Learning and Resources page, and here to visit the War Graves Photographic Project. Click here to read Chantal's blog post, Charcoal and Paper, on the reflections inspired by the headstone rubbings we do on the Tour. |
Monuments & Memorials
Throughout the course of the tour, monuments and memorials are especially meaningful. We see them in downtown cores, in small towns on the sides of roads, near cemeteries, in residential areas, at battle sites. Who created them and for what purpose is a central consideration as we examine how the events of the war are remembered and what this tells us about the creators.
Consider these same questions with your students:
Why is the monument located where it is?
Who is the monument for? Who needs to be reminded?
Who designed it?
What symbols are used? Why were they chosen?
Is a monument the same as art? Is any interpretation acceptable?