In Remembrance Of The Fallen Of Warfare

"At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them." ~ Laurence Binyon

"If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields." ~ John McCrae

It is Remembrance Day here in Canada, while elsewhere the date is known as Armistice Day or Veterans Day. At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, the guns of war fell silent across the battlefields of Europe, ending the Great War. There will be services in cities, towns, and villages, the laying of wreaths, and the rituals common to the occasion. I will be attending the national service today. And for today, I feature photographs from the last year in my photoblog. The above is taken at Green Island in Ottawa. The park is home to several military monuments, including the National Artillery Memorial. Right beside it is a statue of the Canadian soldier, doctor, and poet John McCrae, who gave the world the poem In Flanders Fields.

Another military monument in the city is the National Aboriginal Veterans Monument, which features four Indigenous warriors back to back, with the wolf, bear, elk, and bison around them, and an eagle overhead. It honours Indigenous soldiers and veterans who have fought for the country, even at times when the country wasn't treating them right. It stands in Confederation Park, where several military monuments reside.

Just up the street, occupying the very heart of Confederation Square, is the National War Memorial, seen here during the Tulip Festival. It was first dedicated to the dead of the First World War in 1939, and has since been rededicated, including the Second World War, Korean War, South African War, Afghan War, and those who have served and died in military service to the country. It is here today that the national service of remembrance is to be held.

The Canadian War Museum is at Lebreton Flats, just west of the downtown core, telling the story of Canadian military history, at home and abroad. It looks like a bunker, or a massive bomber plane, which is entirely appropriate for its subject material.

Lebreton Gallery inside holds a wealth of military equipment from multiple countries and eras, here photographed from above.

As one emerges from the permanent collection, the last artifact is this. Canadian forces ended the First World War at the Belgian town of Mons, where they presented two field guns to the people of the town, saying that these were the last guns fired on the enemy before the Armistice. For the centennial of the ending of the war, Mons presented this one back to the people of Canada, and now it has a place of pride here.

The War Memorial features the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at its base. An unknown Canadian soldier who fell at the Battle of Vimy Ridge is now buried there. His original gravestone occupies the Memorial Chamber inside the Museum. The building is designed and angled so that at 11 in the morning on November 11th, provided the sun is shining, sunlight will shine through an overhead window and illuminate the stone.

Criminals, Detectives, And French Jewels

 

Hunt Continues For Missing Jewels After Brazen Theft From The Louvre

Paris (Reuters) The strange case of the Louvre jewel theft in October continues to captivate the world, even with four suspects in custody. Several pieces stolen in the brazen theft, done in less than ten minutes by a group of thieves using a cherry picker lift from outside, are still missing. Security at the famous Paris museum is being raked over the coals for the inept response. And the greatest law enforcement officials in France continue to work the case. 

On October 19th, thieves used a cherry picker machine to intrude into the Louvre in broad daylight by breaking a window and making off with multiple crown jewels held in the museum. An estimated haul of 102 million remains unaccounted for, after one item, the crown of Eugenie, was dropped during the escape. It was all done within minutes. The group fled on scooters from the scene, enraging the country's populace. The cherry picker had been stolen several days prior to the theft.

Prosecutors believe the four arrested individuals to be petty crooks and not professionals tied to organized crime. They do note that petty crooks are becoming more daring in their acts, as this highlights. "It is an embarrassment to the country as a whole," one said under anonymity. "The Louvre is a jewel among museums of the world, and for this nonsense to happen... it is unthinkable. This sort of thing makes you want to bring back the guillotine."

Police continue to hunt for additional suspects, and the remaining jewels have not yet been found. Unlikely suspects have been named and dismissed. The security team at the Louvre is being questioned for any involvement, as well as their own ineptitude in the matter. Interpol is keeping an eye on unscrupulous dealers who might think that they have a chance of moving the jewels to unscrupulous customers. And one of France's greatest detectives is leading the response to the case. "We will find them wherever they may hide, let me assure of you of that," he told reporters outside the Louvre. "They think they are clever, and they may be, but they are not so clever as Inspector..."

"Clouseau!" came a voice from across the street, as loud as could be.

"That is not my name, monsieur!" Chief Inspector Charles Aznavour cheerfully called back.

Some in the media have suggested the involvement of Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon, who is known for an incident at the Louvre years ago, among several others. Langdon has been known to get involved in pot boiler plots that make him initially appear guilty before being proved innocent after unravelling byzantine schemes and secrets linked to art. He also bears a striking resemblance to actor Tom Hanks. Langdon denied being anywhere near Paris. "It's been six months since I've been in Europe," Langdon told reporters in a conference call. "I've been working on my latest book, which explores the hidden secrets in the painting American Gothic, by Grant Wood."

Regardless, French authorities are eager to arrest anyone else involved in the theft, especially if they hang around with Daniel Ocean. These are cultural treasures, after all, and must be recovered. Fears of their disappearing into anonymous vaults forever are out there, but police are determined to find the suspects. Aznavour, after having words with the heckler who compared him to a bumbling film detective played by Peter Sellers, said as much to the press. "They are running out of time. They cannot hide, for the strong eyes of the law are searching for them. And if they should attempt to cross the ocean, we have friends in Interpol over there who will intercept them." 

One of those friends is the legendary Mountie, Canadian RCMP Inspector Lars Ulrich, often mistaken for the Metallica drummer of the same name, even though they look nothing alike. Ulrich is fresh off an epic five hundred kilometre chase of Mad Jack Munro, who in the space of three months robbed sixteen banks through the Canadian west until being brought down by the fearsome lawman, who threw him into Dead Man's Canyon before arresting him. Ulrich was reached at his detachment in the Alberta foothills. "If they need my help, I'll give it," Ulrich said. "But I know Inspector Aznavour. He's the best they've got. Even if people keep mistaking him for a dead singer."

Witches, Ghosts, And Haunted Houses

Happy Hallowe'en! I have an image blog for the occasion.