POW GRAND DAUGHTER TO UNVEIL PLANS FOR GREAT ESCAPE MEMORIAL PROJECT AT 60TH ANNIVERSARY IN POLAND
CALGARY- On March 24 and 25, 2004, Carrie Tobolski, grand daughter of executed PoW, Pawel Tobolski of Stalag Luft III and Calgary architect Ryan Scarff will unveil plans for the Great Escape Memorial Project marking the escape tunnel at Stalag Luft III PoW Camp in Zagan, Poland. Tobolski and Scarff, members of the Great Escape Memorial Project, and also representing Veterans Affairs Canada, will be making a formal presentation announcing plans for The Great Escape Memorial Project on March 24 at the VIP gala reception of the 60th Anniversary Great Escape at the Palace of Culture in Zagan, Poland. Endorsing the project and present at this event will also be the Canadian Ambassador to Poland (Warsaw), Ralph Lysyshyn, the Mayor of Zagan Poland, Slawomir Kowal and dignitaries. Tobolski and Scarff will also be attending related events in London, England and Belgium the week of March 15, 2004. The architect's Great Escape Memorial Project model and architectural renderings will be on permanent display at Museum of Allied Prisoners of War Martyrdom effective March 24, 2004 in Zagan, Poland. Since its inception, The Great Escape Memorial Project has increased awareness and visibility about the project and has educated and connected people around the world to this heroic event. The design of the project has been completed and approved and will break ground once the funding is in place. The projected budget for this project is estimated at $200,000. Upon completion of Phase 1, a memorial chapel and interpretive center (estimated at $2,000 000) is anticipated. Buried deep in the forest at the actual site where the Great Escape took place, the project design will include; a memorial structure consisting of two elements, one located at the entrance of the tunnel and the other at the exit. The entrance structure will enable visitors a below ground glimpse of what the prisoners experienced and will also include a sky view opening that symbolizes hope and freedom. The second structure marking the exit of the tunnel will illustrate the 30 foot shaft the prisoners had to ascend. The two structures will be visible to one another and the space between them will depict the underground distance traveled by the prisoners. In September 2002, a Great Escape Memorial Project Committee was struck with a mandate to establish a memorial site that would ensure the memory of this extraordinary event. This international committee consists of Canadians, Carrie Tobolski (Project Coordinator), Shannyn Scarff (Fundraising and Publicity), Twyla Tobler (Communications Advisor), Paul Tobolski (son of Pawel Tobolski), Dr. Vince Murphy (Stalag Luft III PoW), Ryan Scarff (project architect), Roxana Anderson (daughter of Stalag Luft III PoW), Myron Williams (President, POW Association - Calgary) Dick Westbury (War Historian), Dennis Anderson (Project Treasurer), George McKiel (Stalag Luft III PoW) and Jan Bartelski of London England. It is the goal of the International Great Escape Memorial Project Committee, through the addition of the memorial structures, to promote cross cultural education initiatives for future generations. The Great Escape Memorial Project has received support from individuals, corporations and friends and family of Stalag Luft III prisoners of war. Donations have come in from around the world including: South Africa, England, New Zealand, Germany, Australia, Canada, United States, Belgium and more. The committee is currently seeking financial donations and corporate sponsorship to assist with funding of the project. Additional information and donation forms can be found at: www.thegreatescapememorialproject.com For Interviews and more information call:
LOCAL ARCHITECT TO DESIGN MEMORIAL MONUMENT FOR GREAT ESCAPE
CALGARY- During the second world war, 76 prisoners of war escaped by a man made tunnel from the German Luft Waffe camp - Stalag Luft III in Sagan Germany (now Zagan, Poland). All but three of those who escaped were recaptured and 50 were executed contrary to the Geneva Convention. Today, the site where this historical event took place lays barren, occupied only by rows of planted trees. In November 2000, an International Great Escape Memorial Committee was struck with a mandate to establish a memorial site that would ensure the memory of this extraordinary event This international 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 (London, England) - a retired World War II pilot, Andrew Wiseman (England) -former POW from Stalag Luft III, Captain S. Wandzilak (deceased) and Ludwik Martel (London, England) - last remaining Polish battle of Britain pilot. 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. In November 2001, Carrie Tobolski and Calgary architect, Ryan Scarff traveled 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. A recent graduate of Dalhousie University, and a native Calgarian 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, the tunnel exit memorial and an outdoor landscape piece. Construction is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2003 with the unveiling for the 60th Anniversary of the Great Escape planned for the spring of 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. |
