Jack2

= Memorials =

What are war memorials?
There are many different types of war memorials, arguably all war poems and literature are memorials. Though the actual physical memorials to the fallen are plenty. In France for example every single village has a World War One memorial to the people from the village who died in battle. Most towns and cities in England also have war memorials. Even armistice day could be considered a war memorial. Possibly two of the best examples of war memorials are the Tyne Cot cemetery situated in Belgium and Langemark cemetery in Germany. Tyne Cot was established October 1917 it is located near Passendale (west Flanders, Belgium) It was dedicated to the British by King Albert I of Belgium as recognition to the massive British effort s and loss of life, in the aid of defending and liberating Belgium. It is the largest commonwealth cemetery in existence. The centre piece of the cemetery, the “cross of sacrifice” was suggested by King George the V of England in 1922. I visited Tyne Cot in 2000 when I was nine years old. At the time I remember feeling a little bored and very cold, and I did not appreciate the full effect of the cemetery as I believe I was too young. Though looking back and reflecting on the experience, the sheer size of the place is overwhelming and to think that under every grave lays a lost life and behind every name one the back walls represent a life presents a rather strange feeling.

In contrast to the Tyne Cot cemetery is the Langemark cemetery for fallen German soldiers. Where the Tyne Cot cemetery is mainly white the Langemark cemetery is much darker stone with a much darker depressing feel to it. The graves at Langemark, located near the village of Langemark (west Flanders, Belgium), are all small slabs of granite spaced not very far apart where the soldiers were buried stood upright. The difference between the two

What is the message behind war memorials?
Answer == ==

What is Armistice day?
Armistice Day is a globally recognised day, it is the anniversary of the end of World War One. Armistice Day is on the 11 of November, the purpose of the day is open to interpretation. There are some people who think that the day is there to mark the end of the war and celebrate that, others think it serves to encourage people to reflect on the devastating loss of life and some believe it is there to glorify those who died for their countries. In many countries around the globe most people take a minute or two at 11 o’clock as a sign of respect to the eight million who lost their lives during the war. Though in England these two minutes of silence are had on Remembrance Sunday. Remembrance Sunday takes place in England because during the Second World War it was decided that the two minutes silence would be moved to the Sunday nearest to the 11 of November as not to interfere with wartime production. The symbol of this day is the poppy, as this the flower that grew in the majority of the battle fields. 11 November 2008 will be the 90th anniversary of Armistice Day

Three Useful Weblinks

 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyne_Cot_Cemetery A wikipedia entry explaining and listing war memorials.
 * Link 2, with summary of why useful
 * Link 3, with summary of why useful