About 17 years ago a dear person, Caroline Rose Hunt, honored me and Cole by attending our wedding on Christmas Eve. We hardly expected anyone to come at 4:30pm on such a holiday but almost everyone we invited did attend and Caroline was among them. We were agog that so many people shared that time with us and to this day consider each attendee to be very special.

Caroline Rose Hunt and me at my wedding reception.

Cole and me, blessed with good friends and great love.

Recently, Cole and I were able to attend the opening of the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center in Seagoville, Texas, an environmental glory in honor of Caroline’s son. We are not close to the Sands/Hunt family, only really knowing a few members here and there, so hearing the story of the Sands family’s involvement with the area and their interest in preserving and developing a natural way to cleanse and increase water resources gave new insights into this branch of the larger Hunt clan.

Bunker’s sons and daughters were part of the ceremonies and their stories about their dad and their own experiences growing up appreciating these lush lands touched every one. Bunker died a young man and his children’s participation (two of his daughters, precious twins, especially young) added a tender aspect to the event.

The late Bunker Sands (1948-2003) was an Executive Director of The Rosewood Corporation and the son of Caroline Rose Hunt and Loyd Bowmer Sands. For Bunker, one of the more enjoyable aspects of the family’s three ranches was the development of the wetlands. He recognized the importance of wetlands to the total environment and began restoring and developing manmade wetlands on the Rosewood Ranches in 1980. Bunker’s primary concern in the creation of the wetlands was the health of the habitat and wildlife. With the help of Rosewood Ranch managers, efforts were made to create new wetlands and replace natural resources providing essential nesting and wintering areas for migratory birds in addition to conserving water.

The director of the Wetlands Center, a charismatic character named John DeFillipo, devised an interesting way to christen the opening ceremonies.

Bunker’s oldest son spoke first, with an overview of the purpose of the Center’s work. He related vignettes of his walking the land with his father and shared much of his father’s dreams for these magnificent spaces. After various officials and experts spoke in more detail on the purposes and goals for the Center, Bunker’s other four children closed the ceremonies by layering colored sands to represent the interwoven work the project represents between the Rosewood Corporation and the North Texas Municipal Water District East Fork Wetland Project in developing this phenomenal project. Watching these beautiful children meticulously measure and layer bright green and blue sands, enclosed in natural sands on the top and bottom really gave a sense of the complexity and seriousness of this venture.

The mission of the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center is to both educate the public and provide research opportunities in the areas of water quality and supply, wildlife management, and wetland systems. The Center has partnered with regional school districts, wildlife and conservation organizations, and research institutions, to develop premier environmental education programs. The education programs will focus on wetland and river ecosystems, bird migrations and water conservation. Research conducted at the Wetland Center will encompass wetland ecology, riparian ecology and watershed modeling.

The unique environmental education programs of the Wetland Center will give young students an opportunity to observe and collect data for research projects. This scientific inquiry method provides real life experience using field and laboratory investigations to solve problems and make informed decisions.

As one of the speakers said, the project isn’t just for today. It is generational. The Sands family, with Caroline smiling next to her beautiful grandchildren, exhibited this powerfully.

And now I know even more how important it is to preserve our precious water resources.

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