Re: Time to boot the soldier, Letters to the Editor, The Record, June 25.
As former director of development for the Simon Fraser Society for Community Living, I spearheaded the building of the soldier and conducted all of the fundraising so I feel compelled to give you some information.
The world’s largest tin soldier was touted as a “labour of love” by the local unions, businesses and individuals who donated to this project. It is constructed from bridge material and will last a long, long time.
The soldier was created as a mascot for the Royal City Christmas festival in honour of children and adults with disabilities.
Its historical reference was fashioned after the Royal Engineers who landed in New Westminster in 1859. They disembarked their boat right where the soldier is now placed.
The gold heart on the soldier represents the spirit of kindness towards others.
Children love the soldier. It becomes a ghost at Halloween and gets lit up for Christmas. Families come from all over the world and take photos of their loved ones with the soldier. Children love to play or sit on the big boots. Also, it is kind of neat to be listed in the Guinness Book of Records, from the small town of New Westminster. There is a time capsule inside to be unveiled in the future.
Mayor Wayne Wright contributed to this project in a big way, overseeing production and making sure it was ready for the unveiling date. He even helped with the painting. He wasn’t a mayor then, merely a community volunteer and advocate for those less fortunate.
Have you had the opportunity to read the children’s soldier book Mayor Wright paid for and published?
Many of the colourful books were donated to children’s hospitals for the patients. There is a worthy lesson in the book.
I thought that you might like to know why others consider the soldier valuable. I know that you are an artist (oil painter), so I find it unusual that you would criticize the work of others not even thinking about the significance of representation.
Cheryl Gauld
