‘Sentinel’ will watch over Central Gardens

(Above) Central Gardens volunteers Roger Harringa and Joe Plague carefully unloaded “The Sentinel” at Central Gardens of North Iowa Thursday.-Reporter photo.

Jim and Ann Kuhlman celebrated a special anniversary with a gift to a place they love.

The Mason City couple met in the spring of 1967 and were married later that year.  They marked their 50th year by purchasing and donating a sculpture to Central Gardens of North Iowa.

“Sentinel,” one of the “River City Sculptures on Parade,” caught the eye of the Mason City couple.  And as the program was wrapping up this spring, they offered to purchase the marble goose and donate it to Central Gardens.  It will be placed in the vicinity of the Nature Education Pavillion, overlooking the gardens.

“We have been fans of the Sculpture Walk program since it began, and through our volunteer work with Central Gardens, we knew they were interested in acquiring a piece,” said Jim Kuhlman, who has served on the Central Gardens board since 2002, the last 12 years as treasurer.

The white marble sculpted to create “Sentinel” is the same type used for the exterior of the Lincoln Memorial and the Tomb of the Unknowns in Washington D.C.

“We parked in the vicinity of the sculpture one day and it immediately caught our eyes,” said the couple.  “And when we saw the writing about it, it sealed the deal.”

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Deb Zelenak, of Lander, Wyo., created the piece.

“Domestic geese have been used for centuries as watch animals and guards,” she explained. “With his neck outstretched, the Sentinel is ready to sound the alarm at the first sign of danger. He’ll be a wonderful protector at Central Gardens in Clear Lake.”

Central Gardens will host a public unveiling of the sculpture at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 18.  Refreshments will be served from 2 to 4 p.m.

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