It’s a project that took on a life of its own and a group of interested citizens are willing to take it to the next two stages with some community support.
The Soldiers’ Tree, a commemorative piece of carving from a 102-year-old cottonwood tree located at the former Pawson’s Market Garden south of the city, will find a permanent home beside Estevan’s cenotaph, if all plans come to fruition.
Jim “Frosty” Forrest is one local resident who decided early on to put time and effort into the project that features the artistic and crafting talents of chain saw carver Darren Jones of Rimbey, Alta.
The committee has received permission from the provincial Ministry of Justice and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 60 to place the Soldiers’ Tree Monument in the southwest corner of the Court House lawn near the cenotaph.
The completed project, if all goes according to plan, will include a fence of metal silhouettes depicting various Second World War airplanes, ships and artillery pieces in scenes from historical battles that included Canadians.
A stone paver walkway will lead from an 11th Avenue entrance which will be lined with flower beds. The walkway will surround the monument and will include carved benches. The first will depict a First World War PPCLI soldier and a Second World War sailor. The second bench will pay tribute to the Second World War airmen and a modern-day soldier.
Forrest explained the project got underway in October of last year with the donation of the tree by the Pawson family who had owned and operated the market garden in the valley just south of Estevan for decades.
The committee hired Jones to apply his talents which turned the tree base into a military tribute.
Forrest said curiosity led committee member Lester Hinzman to Jones and some samples of his work, which caught the attention of others, who joined the group effort.
The Soldiers’ Tree monument will tell a story of Canada’s contribution to the Allied victories in the First and Second World Wars with the personnel from the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force coming to life through the six metre sculpture that pays tribute to those who served and those who serve in the military today and those who will serve in the future.
The sculpture recognizes the South Saskatchewan Regiment that was formed in 1930. The King’s Colour (flag) of the SSR is carved above a duo of soldiers showing one soldier assisting another in a combat situation.
The tree carving should be completed by April with the official placement at the Court House shortly after. The official dedication is scheduled for Sept. 10 of this year and so far plans include a parade of Legion members with the PPCLI Elks Army Cadets and Pipe Band and the Wylie-Mitchell Air Cadet Squadron. Plans are also being made to include a 100-soldier military guard and a fly past of vintage Second World War aircraft, including one of the few remaining serviceable Spitfire fighter planes and a Hurricane. These planes will be coming up from Texas, as part of the Texas Flying Legends team and their presence will be sponsored by the Estevan Flying Club, said Forrest who added that he is getting excited about the potential and meaning of the monument as well as this special launching.
“But in order to complete it, the committee, in conjunction with the local Legion branch, launched a fundraising campaign. Pamphlets with donor information have been placed in various businesses around the city and corporate donors are being approached,” he said. Those wishing to make a donation are invited to contact the Estevan Legion at 306-634-3135 or drop in to see them in the office at 1317-Fourth Street. Mailed donations go to the S4A 0X1 postal code and cheques are to be made payable to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 60. Donors are asked to mark “Soldier Tree Account” on the cheque’s memo line.
“Take a look at the tree if you wish, it’s located just southwest of the water treatment plant,” said Forrest.
“The committee figured we’ll need about $50,000 to get everything they want to complete the project,” Forrest said.
“It was interesting when I left a phone message with that Texas Flying Legends club. They returned my call within an hour. We talked for a while and I learned that one guy they knew down there had trained to be a pilot at the Commonwealth Training School right here in Estevan so many years ago. So there is always something positive happening around this project. It’s easy to get behind it.”
Forrest suggested it was just a matter of “do you care, do the younger people in our city care? I know the local flying club does, and the people we’ve contacted so far, do. We were able to get an artist’s concept of what the monument might look like thanks to the photographic and artistic efforts of Gale Tytlandsvik. It was another small but very appreciated gesture by a local citizen who cares, too. We have the military types like Robert Rooks and the army and air cadets behind this, along with the Legion who have done quite a bit over the past couple of years,” he said.
Forrest said donations have been coming in as a result of the pamphlet campaign, and a sculpture of a Canadian beaver in a foxhole will be auctioned off at the upcoming Estevan Wildlife Federation fundraising dinner in April.
Forrest said some of the $50,000 needed will hopefully come as work-in-kind donations since there will be some physical hauling required and yearly maintenance will be needed which will be carried out by the Soldiers’ Tree committee through the auspices of the Legion.
The memorial is being placed next to the cenotaph to facilitate the maintenance requirements and to be provided a measure of safety and security.
