I found the way the British memorialized World War II drastically different from the way the United States memorialized it. One of the first places I went to see after arriving in London was St. Dunstan in the east. A beautiful memorial to the city, the church was left untouched by man after the war, and beautiful ivy and plants are now clinging down once-white walls of the church itself. There are no plaques, names, or any other indicators that this is a war memorial, the monument speaks for itself. It is a place of quiet reflection, where the effect of the war is clearly seen. When walking through the church, I was struck with several questions: What would I have done in a situation like a blitz?” Is there anything to do at all, except keep calm and carry on? St. Duston was the perfect environment to ponder those questions.
The closest comparison in the United States is the Vietnam Memorial. The site is surrounded by nature and is a place of solemn reflection. In both Memorials, the effect on the home country is palpable. Be it the sheer number of names etched in black stone, or the clear scorch marks from German bombs, the effect of the war makes itself known. Every World War II Museum in Britain has a somber feel to it. They remind the British that while they won, England and its Empire paid an extremely heavy price for victory.
In contrast, the war museums and exhibits in America have a very patriotic and general sense of victory instead of introspection. The World War II memorial in Washington DC, for example, has 56 victory wreaths symbolizing the United States and its territories. A large fountain, often filled with children, gives a feeling of grandness and victory, instead of somber reflection. Another difference is the homage paid to their enemies. At the bomber command memorial, the British paid homage to German civilians that they killed in their bombing of mainland Europe. Most British memorials remind the visitor that there were lives lost on both sides of the war, and the memorials feel more human than the ones at home. It is more a monument than a memorial and provokes strong feelings of patriotism. I believe that the memorials we see in mainland Europe will follow the British trend because these countries also felt the brunt of the war firsthand. America was unique in the conflict. We did not personally feel the presence of the war save for one attack on Hawaii, and it shows in how we think about the war and how we commemorate it.
Overall, London was a fantastic experience. It gave me a lot of perspective on how those whose homes, churches, and families were lost remember the war that killed them.