Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Canada)
Public Works and Government Services Canada , Mary-Ann Liu | |
Type | War memorial |
---|---|
Material | Granite and bronze |
Length | 3.5 metres (11 feet) |
Width | 2.5 metres (8.2 feet) |
Height | 1 metre (3.3 feet) |
Opening date | May 28, 2000 |
Dedicated to | All persons who served and did not return home |
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (
A
Unknown soldier
At the request of the
On the afternoon of May 28, the body of the unknown soldier was transported to the National War Memorial on a horse-drawn
The original headstone of the unknown soldier is the sole artifact and the focal point of the Memorial Hall exhibit within the Canadian War Museum. The hall was designed in such a way that sunlight will only frame the headstone once each year on the 11th of November at 11:00 am.[4] At the former burial site of the unknown soldier, a grave marker similar to the other headstones in the Cabaret-Rouge Cemetery was placed at the now-empty grave. It is inscribed with these words:
ANCIENNE SÉPULTURE D'UN
SOLDAT CANADIEN INCONNU
MORT AU COURS DE LA
PREMIÈRE GUERRE MONDIALE.
IL A ÉTÉ EXHUMÉ
LE 25 MAI 2000
ET IL REPOSE MAINTENANT AU
MONUMENT COMMÉMORATIF
DE GUERRE DU CANADA
À OTTAWA
THE FORMER GRAVE OF AN
UNKNOWN CANADIAN SOLDIER
OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR.
HIS REMAINS WERE REMOVED
ON 25 MAY 2000 AND NOW
LIE INTERRED AT THE
NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL
IN OTTAWA CANADA.
Tomb
The tomb is intended to honour the approximately 116,000 Canadians who died in combat, as well as all members of the
The design, chosen by a committee from six submissions by Canadian artists, reflects some of the themes and style of the
The tomb has become a focal point at all commemorative events at the National War Memorial.
The Royal Canadian Legion commissioned in 2001 a small work of art on the theme of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by André Gauthier.
Sentries
Since 2007, a pair of sentries from the Ceremonial Guard, in full dress uniform and with unloaded weapons, have been stationed at the tomb, on rotation from 9 am to 5 pm. Originally, the programme ran only through July and August. This was expanded in 2014 to run from April 9 (the date of the start of the Battle of Vimy Ridge) to November 10, as well as during significant military anniversaries throughout the rest of the year.[6]
Each morning, the first sentries are marched out with a duty piper and, upon taking their posts, are read their orders by the posting non-commissioned member: both are ordered arms and to stand at ease, weapon thrust out to the full extent of the right arm, head up, and feet 30 inches apart.[7] Sentries hold their post for one hour before being replaced, though, a sentry may stand for two shifts in a day. Sentries on duty may march their beat, which consists of the senior sentry giving a sharp tap on the ground with his or her rifle butt, then acknowledged by the other sentry with a tap of his or her own rifle. A two-three pause between each movement, both sentries then come to attention, take a pace forward, shoulder their rifles, turn outwards, and start marching their beat of nine paces. At the ninth pace, both execute an about-turn and return to their original position, if a halt is signalled. Marching the beat can continue for the full hour if desired. Sentries may not interact with the public.[7]
As the Ceremonial Guard is drawn from all branches of the Canadian Forces (the units chosen via an established rotation
Incidents
2006 urination incident
The Royal Canadian Legion leadership opined that the tomb deserved a military or police guard as a symbol of respect and to protect it from vandalism and desecration. These demands were brought into focus on the night of July 1, 2006, when Dr. Michael Pilon, a retired Canadian Forces major, photographed three young men urinating on the war memorial shortly after the annual Canada Day fireworks show over nearby Parliament Hill. In the summer of 2007, the sentry programme was instituted.
2014 shootings at Parliament Hill
On October 22, 2014, a man armed with a rifle shot at the sentries on duty at the tomb, fatally wounding Corporal
2022 convoy protests
On the weekend of January 29, 2022, individuals participating in the Canada convoy protest against COVID-19 mandates danced on the statue, on the tomb, and parked vehicles on the surrounding grounds. The incident was criticized by military officials, politicians, and the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada.[12]
See also
References
- ^ a b Department of Veterans Affairs. "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier > Introduction". Queen's Printer for Canada. Archived from the original on 2014-11-07. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ a b c d Black, Dan (September 1, 2000). "The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier". Legion Magazine. Ottawa: Royal Canadian Legion. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e Department of Veterans Affairs. "The Tomb". Queen's Printer for Canada. Archived from the original on 2014-11-07. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ "About the Canadian War Museum". Canadian War Museum. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e Department of Veterans Affairs. "Design and Constructing". Queen's Printer for Canada. Archived from the original on 2014-11-07. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ a b Government of Canada. "National Sentry Program launched at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
- ^ a b Bourdon, Buzz. "RMR Soldiers Help Guard Ottawa's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier". Royal Montreal Regiment. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
- ^ a b Muise, Monique (October 24, 2014). "Serving as War Memorial sentry in Ottawa 'such an honour'". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
- ^ Royal Canadian Mounted Police (July 4, 2013). "Ceremonial Guard of the Canadian Armed Forces Invite RCMP to Stand Sentry at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
- ^ Ivison, John (June 2, 2015). "Who fired the fatal shot that killed Michael Zehaf-Bibeau? Eyewitness account suggests it wasn't Kevin Vickers". National Post. Archived from the original on October 15, 2015. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
- ^ CTVNews.ca staff (October 13, 2015). "Mounties who helped end Parliament Hill attack still not recognized". CTV News. Archived from the original on October 14, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
- ^ "Top Canadian defence officials condemn protesters dancing on Tomb of the Unknown Soldier". Ottawa. 2022-01-29. Retrieved 2022-01-31.