The Lumby Airforce Flying Club and Community Saddle Mountain Flag Poles Project
Submitted by Randy Rauck
The story behind the project….
Many people do not realize that this idea started long ago, actually about 45 years ago, with the tragic passing of Terry Chaput in a house fire behind the Rams Horn Pub in Lumby. His family owned Saddle Mountain at that time, and it was a tragic loss for the community and for the Chaput family to lose one of their hard-working members who was expected to take over the management of the families local logging and gravel businesses at that time.
The Lumby Air Force Flying Club, which had been using the mountain for free flying Hang Gliders in the early years, reached out to Terry’s father, Wally Chaput to ask what we could do to ease some of their family’s pain and at the same time show our appreciation for using the launch site. He suggested a memorial somewhere above the gravel pit would be appropriate and appreciated.
Together we discussed many options deciding on a flag and pole as a landmark and a wind indicator benefitting the family, community and flyers. So It was always the intention of the club to do something but members moved away for work or stopped flying to raise young families and the project was then delayed. Recently, following the passing of Wally, who was also an esteemed veteran, and the renewed patriotism for a united Canada it became obvious to the Club’s current members in March that now was the right time to act, and make a difference on Canada Day, reminding us all of the importance of our nation’s unity, fulfilling the promise from years ago, and serving the community and flyers into the future.
After the raising of the flag it was apparent that a bigger flag than was originally recommended was needed. So the club put out a request for donations and the community came through! We now have enough for a bigger Canadian flag and a bigger British Columbia flag, which will be installed very soon. Thanks everybody who made those donations. The British Columbia flag pole has a small Canadian flag on it for now as a location marker and the BC flag will be raised on BC day Aug. 4th.
Special Thanks to Jerry Thompson, who now owns this part of Saddle Mountain for allowing the flying club to continue use and protect the launch site and for his inspiration to add the BC flag. His generosity extended to the use of an excavator to dig the forms and move some debris.
Thanks also to Lumby Air Force members, local flyers and friends that assisted when needed
especially Garth Hemming for doing the pole mods, creating special parts and doing the welding and then making the rigging all work in time to raise the Canadian Flag on Canada Day. Ike Burkhart for the slashing out the road in to the site and cutting up the branches for the chipper and for his great video of the flag going up for the first time, Francois Pelletier for being the pole lifting director and rope specialist and climbing the pole, Uwe Hyde of Lumby for arranging to get the poles to Lumby, Balaji Iyengar as bucket rider, and Xavier Nadeau – Aubin for doing the forms with local retired logger Bill Cawthorn.
Special thanks to all of the people and businesses that made this project possible as well, especially my wife Lorelei Fiset for her ongoing support, Eric Oddy of Brisco BC for donating the poles, David Mucciacito for arranging the cement from Burnco Rock Products , Gerry Dyck of Angus River woodworks for getting the poles up the mountain , Caitlyn Snyder from Wise Wood Tree Care Ltd. for lifting the poles and chipping debris , Dan Rose and Warren Baines for running the excavator and who helped clear the area and excavated the 2 flag pole locations with us . Rencon Rentals in Vernon for donating the rebar and Wade Tearne from Rona who arranged for the donation of the form wood, paving stones, nails, screws and misc parts, Gilberts Auto Parts for the 10″X 1″ SS mounting bolts and misc. hardware, Larry Croome and Jesse Scrimbit who both consulted us remotely with some great form suggestions.
