This Thanksgiving, Ken and Alice Dayton gave thanks to Esther Erikson, whose efforts have assured the Dayton’s sons will not be forgotten.
On Oct. 7, the Daytons, of Calgary, Alta., returned to their former home of Sicamous, with extended family, to gather where they stood 10 years ago, before the memorial in front of Eagle River Secondary. On that memorial are the names of approximately 50 Sicamous-area youth who lost their lives to one tragic event or another. Ken and Alice Dayton’s boys, Andrew and Darren, are among them.
The Dayton’s are grateful to have this lasting memory to their children, and for Erikson, who spearheaded the effort behind the memorial.
“Our two boys are on that memorial… and we were all there from Alberta, Saskatchewan and B.C. I just wanted to show our appreciation for Esther Erikson for all her work,” said Alice.
Erikson said the idea for the memorial came to her after she was approached by someone who asked if their daughter’s name could go on a plaque at Cambie Hall.
“I knew she couldn’t because the plaque was dedicated to all the pioneers and the members of Cambie Hall, and they weren’t members,” said Erikson. “So I got to thinking about that, and being as I’ve lived in Sicamous more than 50 years, I knew so many of the young people who had been killed tragically… I thought that would be a project because there was nothing to recognize all of these young people except for the cemetery.”
Erikson began writing letters and making phone calls to families and soon found resounding support for the project. Donations were made from the District of Sicamous, Emcon and Bowers Funeral Service, among others, and eventually the memorial was erected by the high school, as requested by Erikson.
“There must have been well over 100 people there,” said Erikson of the ceremony 10 years ago for the new memorial. “It was a cold October day.”
The memorial was a very personal project for Erikson, whose nephew is also included on the plaque.
“It was very sad sometimes,” said Erikson, who was overcome with emotion upon seeing the above picture of the Dayton family at the memorial and a letter from Ken and Alice expressing their gratitude.