April 2005
A Falconers’ Memorial and Book of Remembrance

During 2002 and 2004 Associates of The Archives of Falconry -Peter Devers, John Swift, and Natalie Nicholson - along with Vicki Swift and Curator Kent Carnie, spent many hours seeking out and visiting the memorials of British falconers.

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.  They 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 method should be established at The Archives of Falconry to honor our comrades in the Americas and globally, as appropriate.  A Wall of Remembrance 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 Wall of Remembrance is a simple design of walls and paths.  The centerpiece is 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 bear the names of the each of the falconers honored with their birth and death dates.

While the Wall 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 on the Falconers’ Wall of Remembrance 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; 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 Wall of Remembrance, it should be understood donations 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 Wall of Remembrance and the entire Archives with all its programs and facilities. Thus far, this idea has been well received by falconers and members of local clubs.  Inquiries or donations should be directed to Archives Administrator David Wells or Archives Curator John R. Swift at 520-591-2174.

"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.