ORANGE, Connecticut — A chainsaw artist and sculptor is honoring veterans with his latest project in Orange.
Aside from working as a teacher for inmates at a maximum security prison, Jared Welcome, also known as "JareBear," creates giant-sized works of wood all over the state. His latest piece is a large eagle being cut and sculpted from a dead oak tree on the property of a veteran from Orange.
Welcome said, “to me the eagle itself symbolizes America, it symbolizes freedom.”
The wooden eagle took Welcome a week to complete. After touching up the talons with his chainsaw, he noted that the eagle was commissioned by Karen Sickinger, the wife of Earl Sickinger, who served in Vietnam and is a proud combat veteran.
Looking at the nearly completed eagle on his front lawn, Earl said, “What I like about art is what moves me. Who wouldn’t this move? This [sculpture] moves everyone and it’s going to be here forever and ever.”
Sickinger has named the eagle “Sam” to honor his closest friend from his days as a Marine.
Welcome added, “It’s my way of saying thank you to the veterans in my own way for all of their sacrifice they have done for our country.”
To learn more about “JareBear Carvings,” click here.
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Jimmy Altman is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at jaltman@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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