This Centennial Totem Pole
THIS CENTENNIAL TOTEM POLE, 50 FEET HIGH, 3 1/2
FEET IN DIAMETER, WAS CARVED FROM A SINGLE NATIVE
CEDAR TREE BY LELOOSKA, OREGON INDIAN ARTIST,
IN AUGUST 1959.
THE BEAVER, BOTTOM, IS THE OREGON STATE ANIMAL.
THE GRIZZLY BEAR, NEXT ABOVE, IS THE TOUGHEST
AND MOST INDOMITABLE OF ANIMALS IN INDIAN LORE,
SYMBOLIC OF OREGON'S PIONEERS, THE EAGLE, KING OF
THE AIR, SYMBOLIZES THE MIGHT AND MAJESTY OF
THE UNITED STATES, THE KILLER WHALE, KING OF
THE SEA, HONORS OREGON'S MARINERS, WHO HAVE EXTENDED
OREGON'S INFLUENCE TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH --
INCLUDING CONQUEST OF THE ANTARCTIC COASTS BY
OREGON OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE U.S. NAVY COMMANDED
BY REAR ADM. GEORGE J. DUFEK.
TOPPING THE POLE, WITH 12-FOOT WINGS OUTSPREAD,
IS THE THUNDERBIRD, TRADITIONAL GOD OF THE STORM,
HONORING PORTLAND'S MAJ. GEN. CHESTER E. McCARTY, OF
THE TACTICAL AIR COMMAND, AND THE OREGON AIRMEN
WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE TO PLANT THE AMERICAN FLAG
AT THE SOUTH POLE. GENERAL McCARTY MADE THE FIRST
HISTORIC AIR DROP AT THE SOUTH POLE OCT. 25, 1956
FROM THE DOUGLAS C-124 GLOBEMASTER "STATE OF OREGON",
FLYING THE OREGON FLAG. OTHER TAC GLOBEMASTERS,
IN COOPERATION WITH THE NAVY, ENABLE JACK MARKS,
SUPERINTENDENT OF PORTLAND'S ZOO, SUCCESSFULLY TO
TRANSPLANT A COLONY OF RARE ANTARCTIC PENGUINS
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, TO PORTLAND'S ZOO.
PRESENTED BY THE PORTLAND ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
AND
DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT COMPANY INC.
