"Moral obligation to maintain memorial"

The Toronto Star headline has it right--let's hope something is done for the memorial to Canadians of World Wars I and II in London, England (and that Conrad Black's past association with it is not an impediment) (H/t to Blazing Cat Fur):

There is a touching memorial for Canadian soldiers from the first and second world wars in London.

The product of a now-deceased Quebec artist, it was unveiled in 1994 by the Canadian Memorial Foundation, a body that was co-led by the former newspaper baron and recently convicted Conrad Black.

The foundation has run out of money, its leader is facing a stint in jail and the memorial is sorely neglected. Reportedly, the Canadian High Commission wants nothing to do with the matter, which sits more as a problem for Canadians than the English.

The bisected pyramid that rises from London's Green Park is beautiful in its simplicity – lying solid and low to the ground, with bronze maple leafs rippling about the flat granite rises of the pyramid. A cobbled brick walk envelopes a compass rose bearing witness to a friendship forged in the struggle that brought soldiers to Britain's shores.

In its better days, water trickled down the split pyramid, so that the maple leafs, too, appeared to float. The water has been turned off. The foundation Black created for its annual upkeep has no money.

It was not a project of Canada's doing and the Canadian government bears no legal responsibility for the memorial. But the memorial stands, nonetheless, as a tribute to those who fought and the 110,000 who died in the world wars. Morally, the government is pressed to ensure the tribute respects the memory of the soldiers.

Black is busy with other concerns these days. If the British government cannot be prodded to maintain the memorial, the Canadian government should find a few thousand dollars from the multi-billion-dollar surpluses it scoops in annually to bring the site back to its subtle glory.

If it cannot do that, then it should negotiate the memorial's removal. Better that there be no tribute than an eyesore suggesting that no one really cares.

Good on the Star.