War Memorials In the Federation

[Samuel]

Ever wonder what kind of war memorials they have in the Federation? I mean come on lots of pretty substantial conflicts have occurred involving the Federation and/or Earth.

The Earth Romulan War. Probably at least one major war with the Klingons. The Border Wars with the Cardassians. The Tholian War. Various conflicts with the Borg. Conflict with the Tzenkethi. And of course the Dominion War. Don't know if I've missed any.

But I wonder what kind of war memorials they have given the Federation's overall attitude regarding warfare?

Thoughts?

 

[Nerys Myk]

Why wouldn't they celebrate and honor those who died in defense of the Federation?

 

[Shawnster]

Holographic memorial display. Music.

 

[F. King Daniel]

In the ENT novels there's a memorial to people who died during the Xindi and Romulan conflicts. George Kirk takes his kids to visit it. Picture.

I recall a war memorial at Starfleet Academy in old 80's DC comics, too.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Beyond's Yorktown was supposed to have a memorial wall.

 

[Spot261]

I'm picturing emplacements in the general vicinity of major battles, orbital museums, that sort of thing.

 

[Tenacity]

But I wonder what kind of war memorials they have given the Federation's overall attitude regarding warfare?

And what do you think the Federation's general attitude might be?

We'll never seen the majority of the Federation, unless they're clueless idiots they realize exactly where their security and freedom comes from, it came from the relatively few who fought and sometimes died to create that security and freedom.

Reminds me of the Arizona memorial at Pearl Harbor.

I'm picturing emplacements in the general vicinity of major battles, orbital museums, that sort of thing.

City centers and dedicated parks. Places where you can take school children, sit them in the grass and teach them lessons

 

[Arpy]

I imagine they like it less than us. As a kid you see all these war movies, or go to history class, and you think the adults know better. But then you grow up and notice now many economic and political and social forces are out there, subtly or broadly, and successfully, move us to war, and you wonder how advanced we actually are as a people.

I think the Federation are very capable and good at waging war when necessary, and memorialize their wars maybe better than us. We should know more about the cost on both sides and the failures that lead to the necessity for the war. The memorials are less aggrandizing and more a warning...these people were lost because of the failure to keep them "long-living and prosperous."

I imagine history is better taught in school. Ever notice some people know too much about whichever war and others know nothing? And if you ask why a war was fought, people from different political parties will give you different reasons for them? What is that?

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I imagine in Federation society they honor people who died in war but they don't have the jingoist mythology about it that they do in some modern countries. They honor their diplomatic accomplishments more than they honor their military accomplishments. There may have been campaigns to remove memorials to expansionist military campaigns and conquerers, similar to recent campaigns to remove civil war memorials. War memorials in the 24th century probably strictly honor those who fought in defense, and deem wars for territory control and regional hegemony, and campaigns where a powerful country inflicts death and suffering on civilians because they have a dictator who isn't friendly to the country's economic interests something we used to do back when we were a dangerously savage child race.

We imagine physical statues and sculptures when we imagine war memorials, in the 24th century there may be more holograms and technology involved.

It's likely after the events of the Borg and Dominion invasions, the people reawakened to a respect for the sacrifices made by the military.

 

[Jetboogieman]

We imagine physical statues and sculptures when we imagine war memorials, in the 24th century there may be more holograms and technology involved.

I dunno, I'd like to think that's something that would stick around.

In FC Picard acquiesces to data that, the original phoenix sat in a museum but he was never allowed to touch it. This is coming from the Captain of a ship that could simply holodeck himself into the pilots seat anytime he wanted.

It doesn't seem to be that the humans of the 24th century are any less susceptible to the power of symbolism as we are today and war memorials are damned powerful things depending on your sensibility and allegiance.