We Will Remember Them:
War Memorials in New Brunswick
Different forms of memorials
There are many different kinds of war memorials. Each says something particular, either by referencing another memorial or in the form itself. These are some of the most common memorials, it is by no means an exhaustive list.
Cairn
A simple pile of stones, a cairn is one of the most common forms of memorials. Cairns date back to biblical times: When the Israelites ended their forty days in the wilderness, they built a pile of stones to be "a memorial to the Children of Israel forever" (Joshua 4:7). In Canada, it is often a pile of stones with a plaque attached. Cairns are also common forms of battlefield memorials, that is, memorials placed directly on the battlefield.
Cross of Sacrifice
Found in all Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries, the Cross of Sacrifice has a bronze sword attached in the centre of the cross representing both the religion of the majority, and also the traditional battle weapon.
Cenotaph
From the Greek κενοτάφιον (kenotaphion: "empty tomb"). It is often used to indicate a simple stone pylon, with no (or little) sculpture. Any memorial, however, could be called a cenotaph because there is no body there. The most famous cenotaph is at Whitehall in London.
Obelisk
A tall, tapering stone shaft that originates in ancient Egypt, but is also widely used as a monument in the modern world.
Stele (pl. stelia)
Upright slab of stone which resembles a headstone. This is a very common kind of memorial and likely originates in ancient Greece.