A Scarce First War Hall of Remembrance Commemorative Card

Printed in a sepia-tone on a pressed off-white matte, vellum panel pasted in place on the reverse, the vellum inscribed in black ink inside a ruled frame "The Hall of Remembrance / Ottawa, Canada / In keeping with the memorial character of Canada's Peace Tower and the Singing Bells, the space in the tower immediately above the entrance to the House of Commons was designated as a great national memorial chamber and was called "The Hall of Remembrance." The Hall of Remembrance was dedicated in the presence of His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales. Herein is graven, not vauntingly, but with modest pride and reverence, the deathless record of Canada's martial achievements in the Great War. On a black marble base in the center of the floor stands the Altar of Remembrance into which is set a casket containing the Book of Remembrance in which are recorded the names of the Canadians who gave their lives in the Great War. The stones for the floor were brought from the battlefields of France and Belgium; the border of Belgian marble was the gift of the Belgian government; the white stone was the gift of the French government. The block from which the altar was carved was presented by the British government. The Bible which rests of the Altar of Sacrifice was the gift of his Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, at the dedication ceremonies. Here, in the Sacred Shrine or Sanctuary, representations in relief and other ornaments tell the story of Canadian valor. Ten of thousands of people visit this glorious shrine annually and carry away with them thoughts pregnant with the memories of heroism of Canadian men and women who made the supreme sacrifice for God, King and Country.", 190 mm x 257 mm, the vellum exhibiting tears on the edges and creasing, near extremely fine.