April 2005
A Falconers’ Memorial and Book of Remembrance

These individuals were primarily the authors whose writings served as the literary foundation for American falconry in the 20th century.  Their gravesites were sometimes elaborate but more frequently were in disrepair or - in some cases - no longer existent.  We returned to the United States with a deep desire to ensure that our own American falconers would be remembered.  To further that end all felt that an appropriate memorial should be established at The Archives of Falconry to honor our comrades in the Americas and globally, as appropriate.  A memorial could serve as a permanent location where friends, fellow falconry club members, and/or the family of the deceased could honor the memory of their falconer among others who shared his or her passion for hawking.

The memorial will be a simple design of walls and paths.  The centerpiece will be a bronze sculpture, "Virginia," created by falconer Ross Matteson depicting a Peregrine Falcon lifting off to the heavens, mounted on a large stone pedestal.  On the surrounding walls, individual four-inch by nine-inch cast bronze plaques will bear the names of the each of the falconers honored with their birth and death dates.

While the monument will recognize each honoree in exactly the same manner, a Book of Remembrance housed in The Archives will provide a space for personal photographs and testimonials about the honored falconer.  Two side by side 16 x 20-inch pages will be allotted for each honoree on which their personal photograph, biography, obituary, photos of hawks flown, personal reminiscences, and the names of those making this remembrance possible can be placed. This book will be available for display at various falconry events. Specific criteria for inclusion into the Falconers’ Memorial and Book of Remembrance are as follows: the proposed honoree must have either been an active falconer or been an active member in good standing in a local or national falconry club for five years; must be recommended in writing by three falconers who personally knew him/her, or by a local or national club; and that individual must not have intentionally worked to discredit the sport of falconry.

While The Archives of Falconry has no specific required donation for inclusion as part of the Memorial, it should be understood that funds need to be sufficient to cover the costs of the monument as well as providing for its future care as well as the Archives itself.  We recommend a $1,000 minimum contribution.  All donations will be placed in The Archives endowment fund.  The endowment is a permanent fund in which only the annual interest earned is used while maintaining the original contribution intact.  This fund ensures the permanent viability of the memorial and the entire Archives with all its programs and facilities. Thus far, this idea has been well received by all the falconers and members of the local clubs with whom we have discussed it.  It is hoped that this preliminary concept will generate ideas as to who should be memorialized as well as other suggestions on how to do so.  Comments should be directed to Curator Kent Carnie at 208-362-8256 or Asst. Curator John Swift at 520-760-7325.

"A society defines itself by the people it honors.”
-John Fitzgerald Kennedy-

Below are some photos of the construction progress of the
Wall of Remembrance. 

Pouring the walk for the Wall of Remembrance.	Wall of Remembrance walk; Ross Matteson's sculpture "Virginia" will "take off" from the extension on the right.
Pouring the Wall of Remembrance.	"Virginia" the sculpture to be added to the Wall of Remembrance.