Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Anthony Corea

JENN CASEY MEMORIAL

Jenn Casey memorial ‘May She Soar’ shining bright in middle of Fulton Field Park

Aug 29, 2024 | 6:30 PM

KAMLOOPS – Fulton Field Park officially open, and along with it, a dedication ceremony to honour Royal Canadian Air Force Captain Jenn Casey, who tragically lost her life when a Snowbird plane lost power flying over Brocklehurst and crashed in May of 2020. Military personnel, local dignitaries, friends and Casey’s family all attended the event, taking in the memorial art display — a Royal Canadian Air Force CT-114 Tutor Snowbird consisting of maple leaves.

“It’s hard to put into words,” Casey’s father, Jean-Pierre Thimot, told CFJC Today. “I mean, you see memorials for people all the time. You say, ‘What a special person that was,’ and you don’t know who they are. Now it’s Jenn. To walk up here and see this and know that was for her — it’s amazing. It’s hard to put into words.”

The mosaic is made of stainless steel maple leaves, all held together by branches. The piece was created by local artist Sarah Holliday. The monument is angled as if in flight, pointing to Jenn’s spirit in the sky.

“It was really tear-jerking to just — through them, getting to know Jenn Casey better and just hearing that more personal note about her,” said Holliday. “It makes it even more of an honour to have been the chosen artist to memorialize her.”

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Many people came to show their support and remembrance for Casey whose work and personality touched plenty of lives.

“She was an incredibly gifted and talented communicator,” said friend Jadene Mah. “She had a wonderful way of connecting with communities of all kinds. Her positivity was just infectious and you wanted to follow her.”

Now the monument stands in the middle of Fulton Field Park — always reminding Kamloopsians of Captain Jenn Casey.