Bradford's War Memorial

The main war memorial in the city of Bradford was raised to comemorate men of that place who died for ‘King and Empire’ in the twentieth century’s two world wars. It is a fairly typical design for that type of structure with an exception. Its main difference is the attendant statues' sense of motion. By definition, a statue cannot move, yet this monument to the dead is flanked by a soldier and a sailor in running pose. They are off to the action, not shirking from the great cause for which their lives will be spent. Such sculptures are usually standing in solemn grief and contemplation, reflecting their loved ones’ thoughts back home. Here, they are leaping to the fore, consistent with that dreadful collection of words that each father, mother, wife and child dreaded to hear or read: 'killed in action'. ‘In action’ belies the idea of passivity or just standing around: they were active to the end.

Pray to God that as your years advance and your body declines, you may still be found active in the Lord’s work. Retirement begins in heaven, not before; the believer’s old age pension is to subsidise his service, not his indolence.

Those who are planted in the house of the Lord
Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bear fruit in old age;
They shall be fresh and flourishing,
To declare that the Lord is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him

-Psalm 92:13-15, New King James Version