Infographic: National War Memorial

Interesting Facts about Remembrance Day, the National War Memorial and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Full text description provided below.

Interesting Facts about Remembrance Day, the National War Memorial and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

A 21-metre-tall granite cenotaph decorated with bronze sculptures
Located in Confederation Square in the Nation's Capital: Ottawa, Ontario
Centre statue consists of 22 bronze figures representing all branches of the Canadian forces that participated in the First World War
Surmounting winged sculpture symbolizes peace and liberty
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a four-metre-long granite and bronze sarcophagus. It contains the remains of an unknown Canadian soldier from a war cemetery in the vicinity of Vimy Ridge, France

1914–1918: First World War
1919: Armistice Day is first celebrated in Canada with two minutes of silence on November 11^th
1931: Parliament adopts an act renaming November 11^th “Remembrance Day”
1939: National War Memorial unveiled to commemorate the response of Canadians in the First World War
1939–1945: Second World War
1950–1953: Korean War
1984: Confederation Square designated as a National Historic Site of Canada
2000: Tomb of the Unknown Soldier added to Memorial

Every November 11^th, anywhere from 25,000-40,000 visitors gather at the National War Memorial to celebrate Remembrance Day
Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) maintains the Memorial and preps the grounds for the ceremony
PWGSC stonemasons fill joints, level stones and do patch work to make sure the site is ready for visitors
Alcoves are waxed and a protective coating is applied to the letters on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
PWGSC covers flower beds on the grounds with plywood to protect vegetation and to provide a stable surface for media equipment
PWGSC runs approx. 6000 metres of electrical cable
12 camera positions are set up for live coverage
PWGSC sets up:
- 60 metres of red carpet
- 300 chairs
- 550 crowd-control barriers
- 75 ropes and stanchions
- 1 saluting dais
Any money left by attendees is donated to The Perley & Rideau Veterans' Health Centre
Any relics or photos left by attendees are brought for review and storage at the Canadian War Museum
After the ceremony, PWGSC has 90 minutes to pack up and clear the site

Created in partnership with Veterans Affairs Canada