The National Day of Honour was recognized at Kelowna International Airport (YLW) on Friday May 9, 2014 at 10 am with a plaque presentation by the British Columbia Dragoons, the first and only Canadian Military Unit in the Okanagan. The British Columbia Dragoons is a Reserve Armoured Regiment based in Kelowna and Vernon. The Dragoons earned 12 battle honours in the Second World War and has also provided individual members and formed sub-units to the Regular Force for United Nations operations. The National Day of Honour was designated by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in recognition and commemoration of Canada’s military mission in Afghanistan. The plaque will be mounted in the airport arrivals area near the BC Dragoon stone sculpture ‘Coming Home’. The work was commissioned by the British Columbia Dragoons to commemorate its 100th anniversary in 2011. The work was donated by the Dragoons to the City of Kelowna.
‘Coming Home’ was presented to the City of Kelowna on May 14, 2011 by the British Columbia Dragoons in honour of the regiment’s centennial celebrations. Kelowna International Airport was proudly chosen as the placement for display and Coming Home is listed as in the City’s Public Art collection. The theme of the artwork is a soldier returning home to the Okanagan from a tour overseas and his child running into his arms in an embrace.
While also a painter and portraitist Frances Brazeau’s’ principal medium is stone. Much of her sculpture is glyptic, i.e., directly carved to free the image inside. Often, rough stone remains. Other works are modeled to exploit natural tones and texture or to allow casting. Frances has exhibited and taught painting, drawing and sculpture across Canada. "The 'Coming Home' sculpture was inspired by the several sketches I did when my husband informed me that the British Columbia Dragoons were trying to think of something special to help celebrate their 100 anniversary. I chose one that I felt most depicted the feelings of both the Armed Forces and their families.....soldiers coming home being greeted by their loved ones. The Canadian Armed Forces has played a large role in my life. My father was in the first world war, my husband was in the Artillery and one of my grandsons is in the Reserves. I have always been proud of our Canadian Armed Forces."
