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The Great Escape Memorial Project (Poland)
Posted by Ian Le Sueur on Fri Jan 10, 2003 02:18:27 PM
In reply top null posted by null on null
THE GREAT ESCAPE MEMORIAL PROJECT (CANADA)
During the Second World War, 76 POW?s escaped by a man made tunnel. All but three of those who escaped were recaptured and 50 were executed contrary to the Geneva Convention. Today, the site where the Great Escape took place lays barren occupied only by rows of planted trees.
An international Great Escape Memorial Committee was struck in November 2000, with a mandate to establish a memorial site in Zagan, Poland to ensure the memory of 50 prisoners of war who were executed at the German Luftwaffe Camp, Stalag Luft III in Sagan, Germany (now Zagan, Poland) and all those involved in this historic event.
It was deemed necessary by the committee to commission the design and construction of a memorial site that would mark the entrance and exit of the man made tunnel. It is hoped the addition of this monument will increase awareness of this historical event through education as well as serve as a location for those who lost family members to grieve and find closure.
Currently the International Great Escape Memorial Foundation committee consists of Paul Tobolski (Calgary) - son of Pawel Tobolski murdered by the Gestapo for his role in the planning of the Great Escape, Carrie Tobolski (Calgary) - granddaughter of Pawel Tobolski, Sidney Dowse (Monaco) - former POW and survivor of the Great Escape, Jan Bartelski (England) - a retired World War II pilot, Andrew Wiseman (England) - former POW from Stalag Luft III, Captain S. Wandzilak (deceased), and Ludwik Martel (England) - last remaining Polish Battle of Britain pilot.
The Calgary ?Canada? chapter of the International Great Escape Memorial Foundation was recently formed. This chapter is spearheaded by Carrie Tobolski and includes Paul Tobolski, as well as POW survivors, family, friends and those with an interesting this historical event. Due to the overwhelming response to our public awareness campaign launched on September 23, 2002, a number of interested persons both locally and nationally have contacted us and expressed interest in supporting and participating in this worthwhile endeavor.
In November 2001, Carrie Tobolski and Canadian architect, Ryan Scarff travelled to Zagan, Poland and met with the Mayor, the Zagan Municipal Council and the Cultural Minister to discuss the project. Full written support was granted to pursue this project and the land was designated for this project.
Great Escape Memorial Project architect Ryan Scarff is a recent graduate of Dalhousie University, and a native of Calgary Alb, Ryan Scarff completed the design of the monuments as his Architectural Masters Thesis. This memorial landscape park consists of five buildings/monuments in total including a tower, a chapel, the tunnel entrance consisting of an underground sky pavilion, and the tunnel exit memorial and an outdoor landscape piece. Construction is scheduled to begin in the autumn of 2003 with the unveiling for the 60th Anniversary of the Great Escape planned for 2004.
Currently, the International Great Escape Memorial Committee is actively pursuing interested third parties to assist in the financing of this project. Poland has agreed to provide manpower resources to assist with the research and construction for this project. It is the responsibility of the Great Escape Memorial Committee to secure all financing for this project. The estimated cost of Phase 1 of this project, which includes the design, and construction of the entrance and exit monuments is projected to be between ?60,000.00 - ?75,000.00. (EN830 Research is providing all UK and Europe promotion and publicity free).
We are anxious to break ground on this project and will construction will begin as funding comes into place. It is the hope of the International Great Escape Memorial Foundation to unveil Phase 1 at the 60th Anniversary for the Great Escape planned for 2004.
As there is only a handful of POW survivors of Stalag Luft III alive today, we feel that there is somewhat of an urgency to commence building of the project so that we can pay respect and honor all those POW?s who lost their lives to this tragedy, those survivors who have passed on and the few remaining that are alive today.
BY CONTRIBUTING TO THIS PROJECT, YOU CAN HELP?
? Honor and preserve the memory of the few remaining survivors, their families and all those who died fighting for humanity and freedom
? Contribute to a local, national and international project
? Promote cross cultural education initiatives for future generations.
? Be part of history in the making
We have included some images of the design along with some of the recent press coverage. We invite you to contribute to this exciting international project whether through your knowledge or by making a donation.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE A DONATION TOWARDS
THE GREAT ESCAPE MEMORIAL PROJECT
PLEASE CONTACT:
EUROPE AND AUSTRAL-ASIA USA AND CANADA
Ian Le Sueur Shannyn Scarff
Aymon MediaWorks Corp
Route Orange Suite 1370, 144 ? 4th Ave SW
St Brelade Calgary, Alberta T2P 3N4
Jersey Canada
Email: en830@jerseymail.co.uk Email:media.works@telusplanet.net