I, too, like the "frieze of fallen men", which conjures up the friezes of fallen warriors on ancient classical temples as well as vases. And, for me, anyway, it sets the theme of the sonnet. It would be far-fetched to call this sonnet an "anti-war" poem, but nonethless I think it is the tragedy and horror of all the wars during a ninety-year life-time that come to the fore and make this sonnet powerful. The couplet is, of course, especially moving.
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