In Second Life, a Tribute to Fallen British Soldiers

In Second Life, a Tribute to Fallen British Soldiers

February 23, 2008
The Telegraph reports on a touching memorial to British soldiers killed while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A virtual military graveyard in an area of SL known as Tribute Island features memorials to about 250 British war dead. Nik Hewitt of lasting tribute, creator of the memorial, said:
We've replicated individual tribute markers to all the UK soldiers and military personnel who’ve lost their lives in the continuing conflicts...

We have seen avatars - characters created by serving military personnel - wandering through the graves looking for fallen comrades.

Comments

@ Connor-These brave fallen men were very likely not even BORN at the time of Bloody Sunday let alone have anything to do with it.

How about Aldershot, Harrods, Brightion Hotel, Victoria Station, London Bridge Station, St.Mary's Axe, Bishopsgate, Sussex Arms, Warington, South Quay, Manchester for example?

So kindly keep your bitter keyboard warrior gob shut unless you have anything positive to contribute.
@Connor

Fuck off. Wanker..

As for the Second Lifers who put this together, bloody fantastic work.
Kudos to those setting it up, by the way, the music was probably chosen because its a song often sung at funerals.

@Conner... go to hell.
@Conner

I hate war, but I don't hate soldiers.

The reason I hate war is that so many great mens die in those. To hate soldiers is to hate guns in a shooting.

May their soul rest in peace.
I don't support this. Second Life doesn't have the most appropriate atmosphere in the world to have such a memorial that's supposed to carry meaning behind it.

Obviously someone worked hard on island, and sure, it's a just cause, but really? Second Life?
I always do like those who take the time to pull off stuff like this.

I only fear when certain people get whiff that this exists.
Interesting video... yucky music though (I hate when people stick music over youtube videos).

As a second life showcase it does show up second life's limitatons rather well - it doesn't seem to be getting more than about 5fps when it's showing that number of objects at once... that engine seriously needs upgrading. The sunset effect was rather nice - was that added in postproduction? Last time I tried second life (about 6 months ago) it only supported a blue sky... of course they could have added it since.

The picture of pavarotti didn't work.. clearly stuck onto an existing building.. they should have edited that out as it kind of spoiled a rather well done video sequence.
Not to start a political debate, but good riddance. Remember Derry '72.
Well done to those people that put the time and effort in to make this
I have great respect for our servicemen and are saddened by their deaths.

They shall not grow old as we who are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
we will remember them.
@Connor:

Asshole

@Everyone else:

"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather, we should thank God that such men lived." -- George Patton
@Altair,

I always remember that quote.
Went to this place last night, and I gotta say it's got a hell of a different feel to the rest of SL.

It 's a hell of a thing to 'stand there' amongst all those headstones and see just how many of these people have died in this crazy conflict. I really think the medium helps put it in visual context. 300 markers looks like individuals, where else could you see it like this? I think the most impressive thing for me was the sense of honest 'respect'. Honestly @Gibble, go check this in person. I was well surprised.

Oh yeah, and @Connor, theres memorials there to bomb victims those killed in atrocities and stuff. Put your money where your month is and ask them to place a memorial to Bloody Sunday if your so hot about it...

GamePolitics ShoutBox

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beemoh: @Zip: ...and you'd have to spend all that time re-downloading that porn?
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Posted 11/07/09 at 10:58am
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:56am
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:51am
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:48am
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:11am
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:07am
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:05am
JDKJ: I'm no psychologist, but I'm told that crazy people have a tendency to do crazy things.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:03am
chadachada321: Whoops, was out of the convo for awhile. I do wonder what type of ammo he used etc, but the real issue is WHY he did it, not HOW
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:56am
JDKJ: But if it turns out that they actually did, they'll have Hell to pay.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:45am
JDKJ: And I'd tend to rule out the possibilty of FN Herstal supplying restricted ammunition to someone merely because they're ordering it from a military base.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:37am
JDKJ: I know you don't leave your gated community and get around much in dark alleys, so you may be surprised to learn that there's this thing called "the black market" where, if you've got enough money, ain't too much of anything which can't be bought.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:36am
Austin_Lewis: Or, maybe he or someone else at the base ordered the SS190 from FN Herstal.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:32am
Austin_Lewis: the hands of private owners. They run about 300 dollars minimum for a box of 50, and boxes of AP 5.7 are extremely scarce, mainly residing in the hands of Class III stores or individuals who for one reason or another got a demo box of it.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:30am
Austin_Lewis: There are other firearms that fire the 5.7. However, I too would like to know where he got the ammo and what kind was used. Maybe Hasan, planning not to live through this, went out and bought one the boxes of SS190 that are floating around in
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:44am
JDKJ: And it isn't yet clear what type of ammunition Hasan used. It's strange that he purchased a gun but didn't purchase ammunition for it at the same place and time. Especially because the calibre required is peculiar to the actual gun.
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