During the course of human history, societies have constructed monuments and memorials to commemorate the deepest moments of tragedy, to celebrate the legacy of fallen heroes, and to ensure the memory of significant events remains paramount throughout future generations. Whether larger-than-life statues or sombre designs for cemetery monuments that echo through history, these structures act as lasting reminders of the commonalities we share living side by side, exemplifying the experiences, values, and culture we inherit. Memorials, as beautiful or as plain as they may be, serve several important functions at their core:
Remembrance and Reflection
The tangible focal points that memorials serve for remembrance and reflection are indispensable. Be it a war memorial honoring soldiers trying to protect or a cemetery monument memorializing a precious family member, these structures offer us a space to stop and pause and reflect on the lives and moments they stand for. These are also physical manifestations of our memories that play a role in pushing us in the right direction so that our dear ones never actually depart.
Education and Inspiration
Numerous memorials and monuments are conceived to teach the public communities or motivate them. They provide views of record-breaking events, cultural practices, and the lives of the great people who have made our world which should deepen respect for those who allowed us to exist within it. Through the preservation and transmission of these stories we are awed, we learn, and we become great in our own.
Healing and Closure
The process of grieving is a very personal journey both profound and unique. Stunning memorials help support and the conclusion of this phase. The designs of cemetery monuments, for instance, provide a special place for grieving families and loved ones to feel at ease in the knowledge that their loved ones are respected and remembered.
Artistic Expression
In addition to serving as symbols, memorials and monuments frequently function as great works of art. Complex carvings and sculptures, and epic memorials to grand architectural wonders — through these structures are displayed the creativity of humankind. They show our ability to carve stone, forge metal, and otherwise shape material into expressions that will last for centuries.
“They tether us to the things that we need to remember and have power to comfort us… because it’s a touchstone for us and for our shared humanity,” encourages Mantell. They serve as illustrations of the indomitable nature in men, provide comfort, motivation, and an unexplained feeling of bond over generations.