Shannon Reuss Tribute Set
This is a press release by Andy Neilson of King & Country.
A Toy Soldier Tribute to Shannon
As most toy soldier enthusiasts already know 'toy soldier collecting' is primarily, a male-oriented hobby ... Relatively few females are collectors themselves or are even involved in the past time on a professional basis.
Shannon Reuss of Treefrog Treasures was that rare exception. Together with her husband Pete she began what became Treefrog Treasures back in 1999. Then, as a young stay-at-home mother, she decided to turn some of her energies to a sales and marketing venture ... selling farm-related toys from her home in Illinois.
Before long the small start-up company was growing and looking to expand their product lines into toy soldiers. Not long afterwards one of her customers suggested Shannon look at another small company based in Hong Kong called ... KING & COUNTRY.
So began a great working relationship and friendship that continues to this day. During the years that followed both companies grew and prospered.
The Reuss family soon after made the move back to Minnesota, where the business is currently located.
BAD NEWS
Sadly, in the midst of this growth and development Shannon was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in 2004.
Despite the diagnosis and almost continuous treatment and medication Shannon did not slow down. Together with Pete, Treefrog's expansion went on ... building and opening their own warehouse/ showroom and setting up and running the very popular "Treefrog Treasures Forum" on the Internet.
Under Shannon's guidance and leadership Treefrog Treasures became one of the best-known and most respected leaders in the toy soldier hobby and business. Her passion for customer care, innovation and vision for the hobby was legendary.
On October 18, 2015, Shannon passed away after a long and heroic battle with her illness that she fought every inch on the way.
REMEMBERING SHANNON
Shannon's legacy and memory live on however through her spouse and co-founder Pete, their son Benjamin and the dedicated team at Treefrog Treasures.
Around America and elsewhere in the world other people mourned Shannon's passing. In Hong Kong, sometime after October 18, Andy C. Neilson of King & Country was talking with Pete in America about working together to create a small, special set of figures that would pay tribute to Shannon and the unique role she played in the world of toy soldiers.
When Pete told Andy of Shannon's earlier vocation and training as a registered nurse in several Veterans' hospitals in the U.S. Andy suggested a figure (or figures) relating to a 'nursing theme' ... Further suggestions followed before both men agreed that an original 2-figure set could show a U.S. Army WW2 Nurse in battlefield fatigues tending a wounded G.I.
Andy then offered to send Pete a sketch of the idea for his comments and hopefully, agreement. Within days the concept was duly finalized and work began on the sculpting of the two figures.
JUST 300 SETS
Several months after the initial discussions took place the models were carved, cast and 'master-painted'... ready for production. Treefrog Treasures are releasing just 300 of these very special sets. They will be on sale at the upcoming "Chicago Toy Soldier Show" in late September which Treefrog Treasures will be attending in person. Any collector wanting to obtain the set and not attending "Chicago" can still purchase them direct from Treefrog Treasures.
Please note each boxed set also contains a compact 6-panel, full color leaflet about the figures and Shannon.
IN ADDITION
King & Country themselves are also producing several other U.S. Army WW2 'Nurse' sets to accompany the Treefrog Treasures "Shannon" tribute. These will be available in the coming months ... All of them are dedicated to our great friend and colleague Shannon Reuss.
