Al Pays Tribute

The latter part of 2007 has witnessed the creation of a number of memorials: 9/11; Vietnam War Memorial and Armistice Day. One memorial site that had escaped my notice until today is the Tribute Island sim.

To quote from the notecard: "Tribute Island is all about celebrating the lives of the people we've lost and loved. People who have inspired us, entertained us, selflessly protected us, and who have filled our lives with sound and colour. Frome the British Army, Navy, and RAF, to the political, scientific, and Hollywood greats." The island has a number of zones, taking in all of the classifications mentioned plus many more, including: artists; musicians; authors and scientists. The information hub provides a useful map, or you can catch the monorail that stops at various points around the island. I hopped on at the Underground station, which includes a commemorative plaque to those killed in the 7/7 London Tube bombings.

Here are a few of the many memorials here - starting with a map and aerial view, and a glimpse from the monorail:


Military memorials:


Artists, Picasso and Man Ray:


While here are Orson Welles, Gene Roddenberry and Isaac Asimov:


Some are less serious than others - here's Faye Wray and Peter Cushing:


As you can see from these snaps, there is no formal style, as many of the memorials are personal tributes. As a result, the island, at first sight, looks a bit of an eyesore. However, once you've overcome this initial jarring effect, I think you might find it a very absorbing place. There are so many people, from all walks of life, remembered here. Each tribute also links off to pages on an associated website, where more information can be found and comments left.

If you wish to pay tribute to someone not already represented here then you can. As another notecard informed me: "We’re a free-to-use installation space where you can leave a lasting tribute to ANYONE who’s passed away within living memory (since 1950). Just keep your contributions PG, and (for sim security so that we can keep the sim locked down tight) provide a link to an entry on our website (www.lastingtribute.co.uk) so other people can leave a tribute too."

The island owners also host a variety of events which you can discover by joining the island's Second Life group. Apparently there are various freebies and other "easter eggs" dotted about the place. All in all a fascinating example of "user generated visualisation" and a novel idea. I recommend you pop along. In terms of numbers, there is a bias toward British dead, but this is not intended to be a uniquely British site and there are tributes to people from all around the World - as you can see from some of the names above.

Virtual Vietnam War Memorial

Two months ago I posted a piece about the planned recreation of the Vietnam War Memorial, including the famous Wall, in the virtual world of Second Life. Meme Science have been working hard since then to bring the idea to fruition. It will open to residents on November 7th 2007 at 4pm EST (1pm Second Life time; 9pm GMT) to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the dedication of ‘The Wall’ that took place in Washington DC in November 1982. The build takes in all of the key components of the real world site: Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Wall, the 3 Soldiers Statue, the Vietnam Veteran’s Women’s Memorial as well as much of the surrounding parkland. You can see an introductory movie here.

My guide on the walkabout was Evian Argus (in Real Life Robert Egan) of Meme Science who graciously gave me a wealth of information about the site, both real and virtual. It was a bright, sunny Autumn day in Second Life when I went to have a look around, and the drifts of dead leaves added a poignant metaphorical touch. This was particularly evident at the Women's Memorial, where leaves floated down around the statue.


As I arrived the introductory movie started to play, and as the images unfolded a voice began to read out the names of the dead, to a backdrop of Jimi Hendrix. When the site actually opens this voice will continue on to read all 58,223 names. The technology behind this has used "text to speech" software from Cepstral, with human overrides where it was necessary. The Reading of the Names in Second Life is timed to correspond with the Reading of the Names that will occur in Washington DC. The web site: http://www.TheWallSL.com will help support the project by video streaming in the live dedication given by Colin Powell on November 11th at 1pm EST that will be held in Washington DC. The video dedication will be rebroadcast at The Wall in Second Life within hours of the live broadcast.

Our first stop on the walkabout was the 3 Soldiers Statue, constructed from over 500 prims. Evian explained that they had investigated the use of "sculpties" but eventually decided to use basic primitive shapes to realise the sculpture:


Next we came to the Women's Memorial, where autumnal leaves fell constantly on and around the statue:


And finally, The Wall itself:




Even in the virtual environment of Second Life, the stark black granite, with its densely-packed rows upon rows of names is a sobering and affecting sight. I did not discover how the wall textures were created (Evian was not sure), since the particular granite used in the real life Wall was specially chosen for its highly reflective qualities and would therefore be very difficult to photograph effectively. Whatever method was used, it was crucial that the names be clear, legible and without distortion - and this Meme Science have achieved very effectively.

At either end of the wall you will find a Search facility. By following the simple instructions you can quickly whittle down the 58000+ names to the one you are looking for, and you will be given the exact position of that name, and guided to the right spot by a large indicator arrow:


Meme Science and their partners have constructed a dignified and respectful recreation of the memorial. They will continue to work with the site, through hosted events, educational events and other activities.

The Vietnam War was fought between nations that are not my own, around clashing ideologies that I do not share, and that resulted in the deaths of untold thousands on all sides. I have no sympathy for those who sent these young men and women into what I believe was an unjust and unwinnable war. But I have great sympathy for those whose lives were blighted by that terrible war: the wounded and the dead, and the comrades and family who still mourn for them.

Virtual Vietnam War Memorial Due November

This originally appeared at 3pointd:

Recently I posted about one of several sites in the virtual world of Second Life commemorating those who died in the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001. It brought home to me how an immersive 3D environment can be used as a powerful visualisation tool, providing focus for contemplation.

Shortly after writing this piece I was contacted by Second Life resident, Evian Argus (in Real Life Robert Egan of Meme Science), to tell me about another memorial. Timed to open in November to coincide with the 25th anniversary of its original dedication, Meme Science are building a replica of the Vietnam War Memorial, commonly known as The Wall, in Second Life. The Wall lists all 58, 253 US service personnel killed or missing in the Vietnam war.

Discussions about the project first started with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund around May, 2007, with contracts being finalised towards the end of August. The island will open to the public in early November, with a formal unveiling on the actual anniversary, the 13th of November. The plan is locate the island adjacent to the existing Capitol Hill islands, reflecting their location in the real world. The island will feature all 3 components of the memorial: The Wall; the Three Soldiers statue and the Vietnam Women’s Memorial. Information and name search facilities are planned, along with the option to leave virtual items (supplied by Meme) at The Wall.

The purpose is to provide a contemplative space for remembering the U.S. servicemen and women who died in Vietnam. It will be tied into a website that will offer name search facilities, research resources and more. The full list of features remains to be finalised. Evian was at pains to point out that the aim of the island is not political, it is simply to honour those who had given their lives and provide an education resource for those wishing to find out more, with tours, seminars and other events.

To quote their press release:

“We feel privileged to be selected as the firm that will build a replica of the Vietnam Veteran’s War Memorial Wall in the Second Life metaverse.” said Robert Egan, president of Meme Science. “It will be a welcome challenge to virtually recreate the complex architectural design structure originally devised by Maya Ying Li. Our goal is to try to capture some of the experience and heart felt emotions that can only be felt by visiting the real life Memorial Wall in Washington DC, while at the same time bringing attention and honor to those Vietnam Veterans that died giving service to our country on this the 25th anniversary of the Wall’s dedication.”

At the moment there is nothing to see, so I cannot comment on the construction, but it will be interesting to see if it manages to match the power of the sites constructed to remember the dead of 911. That is certainly the intention.

Images courtesy of Meme Science.