Beautiful, carved cedar benches took their rightful place by the courthouse in downtown Estevan Thursday afternoon. The pieces were gone for refurbishment since April.
During these months, sculptor Darren Jones completely rebuilt the face of one of the soldiers since it degraded quite badly. He also painted four sculptures, polyurethaned the benches and covered the soldiers with a clear coat. All was done to ensure the historical pieces will last longer.
Capt. Robert Rooks from the No. 2901 Estevan Army Cadet Corps, who was Jones’ advisor when it came to historical elements, spoke about what the soldiers represent.
On the very right is a First World War (WWI) soldier of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), which was the first to face the enemy. Beside him is a poem In Flanders Fields by Canadian battlefield physician, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrea.
On the same bench on the left is a Royal Canadian Navy petty officer of the times of the Second World War (WWII) that stayed in service after the war and sailed aboard the HMCS Saskatchewan. Beside him is a verse from the hymn For Those in Peril on the Sea by J. B. Dykes.
On the other bench on the left is WWII flying officer from the Royal Canadian Air Force. Beside him a poem High Flights by RCAF fighter pilot J. G. Magee Jr. The fourth statue is of Master Warrant Officer Ivan Finstad. He served with PPCLI as a career soldier and participated in many deployments in the Middle East and Europe. He was raised and attended school in Estevan. His last posting was as a detachment sergeant major at Canadian Forces Detachment Dundurn. Finstad represents the soldiers of today. Beside him is a poem I Saw the Soldiers Marching by Canadian Poet A.L. Vaincourt.
All statues are holding poppies in their hands, inviting the guests to admire the monument, think about different military missions Canada was involved in and remember the people who fought for the best for generations to come.
Jones is going to be in Estevan sometime doing touch-ups on his other projects and also starting on the new ones. Follow the Mercury for more art emerging in the Energy City.
