Today, Vimy Ridge is dominated by a huge Canadian war memorial. Designed by Canadian sculptor Walter Allward, the Memorial is constructed of white limestone bonded to a cast concrete frame and features 20 sculpted figures. Its towering twin pylons represent Canada and its ally France.
The Memorial took many years to design and build after World War I. It was officially dedicated in 1936 by King Edward VIII. Recently, the Memorial has been extensively restored and refurbished. It was rededicated by Queen Elizabeth II in 2007.
The Canadian National Vimy Memorial is dedicated (in French and English) to all Canadian soldiers killed in World War I --
While the Memorial was being constructed, some of the extensive trenches on the battlefield were also cast in concrete by the same workers. Vimy Ridge is one of the very few places on the former Western Front where trench lines and war ravaged terrain are preserved.
Tomorrow -- Vimy Ridge Day, the statue of Canada Bereft and my family's connection to Vimy Ridge.
[Photos borrowed from various sources on the internet.]
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