Unknown Soldier Monument in front of the National War Memorial

The National War Memorial (also known as The Response), is a tall granite cenotaph with acreted bronze sculptures, that stands in Confederation Square, Ottawa, and serves as the federal war memorial for Canada.

Originally built to commemorate the First World War, in 1982 it was rededicated to include the Second World War and the Korean War. In 2000, the Canadian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was added to the memorial site and symbolizes the sacrifice made by every Canadian for their country.

The contract for the construction of the arch was awarded in Dec 1937 and the entire cenotaph was completed on 19 October 1938, after which the landscaping surrounding the memorial was laid out by Jacques Greber, and installed by Toronto contractors. On 21 May of the following year the memorial was officially unveiled by George VI, King of Canada, in the presence of an estimated 100,000 people, months before the Second World War began. This event and the tour arranged with it marked the first time Canada's reigning monarch had visited the country.

Photo 45, May 2012

Canada's Tomb of Unknown Soldier, part of the National War Memorial

Photo 976, June 2010