There's a lot I could write about the Australian War Memorial. The building itself with its beautiful dome, the history of the wars that it tells, the artefacts and the stories behind them ... but, for me, it was the brilliant red columns of poppies, an en masse tribute adorning name after name on the commemorative Roll of Honour, that left me still inside. There are over 102,800 names on the bronze panels that record the names of Australians who have died in war and on operational service. Every name and every single one of those little poppies represents somebody's life...
Name after name after name cover the walls under the arches of the War Memorial's Commemorative Area. They lead you to the tomb of Australia's Unknown Soldier. Inside, under that magnificent dome, you will find no names but a sombre quietness in respect to all those who lost their lives to war.
The Commemorative Area's arches.
The golden mosaic on the dome's ceiling.
In the late of every afternoon, the Last Post ceremony is held in the Commemorative Area. We stood, as the cold deepened and dusk crept in, while our national anthem was played, as wreaths of flowers were laid on the edge of the Pool of Reflection, and while the story of just one of those brave soldiers, whose name is there among so very many others on that honour roll, was told. The silence was broken by the haunting sound of the bagpipes carrying The Pipers Lament, the solemn voice of a soldier reciting The Ode and the lonely call of a bugle signalled the end of the day and the end of so many lives as the The Last Post rang out, up and into a darkening sky.
The Pool of Reflection.
The Eternal Flame
As we spoke of it later, a visit to the Australian War Memorial is not something enjoyable. It is not that kind of place. It is a place that holds a collective memory. That, I think, is its purpose. To help us to remember, to ensure we do not forget and to be ever mindful of the sacrifices which paid for our own freedom. As you enter and leave the War Memorial, words from our anthem greet and farewell you ... for we are young and free ...
Meg
What a beautiful memorial! And bagpipes and bugle...very solemn. I love the symbolism of poppies and we have them here for Memorial Day in May. We also have an eternal flame at Arlington National Cemetery. Andrea
ReplyDeleteRed poppies are worn here on days of commemoration such as ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day. They are thousands upon thousands of them next to the names of so many at the memorial. Meg
DeleteIt is a very somber place, Meg. I was pleased we visited when in Canberra many years ago.It is not a place you would forget in a hurry.
ReplyDeleteI think it is a place that holds memories and tells stories not easily forgotten, Chel.
DeleteWhenever I visit a war memorial, it always touches my heart. The lives lost, the sacrifices they made...
ReplyDeleteYes. All those poppies, one after another after another, beautiful but sad at tbe same time. Meg
DeleteBeautifully written Meg.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure words are ever enough but thankyou. MegXx
DeleteI enjoyed your post, we have a similar memorial which we have visited a couple of times, each October bikers around the UK visit at the same time and raise huge sums of money to ensure the upkeep of the area, my post here https://poppypatchwork.blogspot.com/2013/10/memorial-wall-at-national-aboretum-rttw.html shows some photos. The worst part for me is the empty wall, no names, waiting for those who sub-come in the future. I love the poppy as a symbol, it's iconic. We should never forget, families were torn apart by loss.
ReplyDeleteIt is terribly sad to think that more names will be added to memorials like these as the years go by, Marlene. It a reality that I wish was not so. MegXx
DeleteThank you. We know the Ode as the Ode of Remembrance here in Canada. I put out a pix of the Australian War Memorial each year in my Remembrance Day display as the rows of poppies beside the names is, to me, a very powerful image.
ReplyDeleteIt really is so powerful and poignant, Marjorie. So many poppies to mark all those lives lost. I read that the leaving of poppies began as a spontaneous tribute, to family members and to the fallen, as they were pushed into cracks between the panels of the honour roll, while patrons waited to pay respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It grew from there as people visited the memorial and left more and more poppies. Meg
DeleteI had the same impression as Andrea, very solemn. It makes you appreciate the freedom that you have. I am always aware of that, as a woman, especially.
ReplyDeleteAmong the artefacts on display from the Second World War, there is a qulit that was made by some of the women who were imprisoned at Changi Prisoner of War camp. It really made me pause, not only for the suffering of those women but also their resourcefulness. It really does make you grateful for freedom, for better times. MegXx
DeleteI find the sight of poppies incredibly moving. From a single red poppy pushing its way through a crack in the pavement to a field full of them.
ReplyDeleteThey are incredibly beautiful, Cherie. Delicate petals of vivid red that say so much. Meg
Delete