Sedona AZ (November 11, 2013) – This is a sight you have probably never seen. This is a rare and beautiful memorial to our veterans who were killed in the Vietnam War. It hangs in the National Veteran’s Art Museum, Chicago, Illinois.

When visitors first enter the museum, they will hear a sound like wind chimes coming from above and their attention will be drawn upward 24 feet to the ceiling of the two-story high atrium.

Dog tags of the more than 58,000 service men and women who died in the Vietnam War hang from the ceiling of the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum in Chicago. The 10-by-40-foot sculpture, entitled Above and Beyond, was designed by Ned Broderick and Richard Stein.

The tens of thousands of metal dog tags are suspended 24 feet in the air, 1 inch apart, from fine lines that allow them to move and chime with shifting air currents.

Museum employees, using a kiosk and laser pointer, help visitors locate the exact dog tag with the imprinted name of their lost friend or relative.

This article was submitted by SedonaEye.com columnist Eddie S. Maddock in a salute to fellow Sedona Eye columnist Gary Chamberlain, Vietnam veteran and co-founder of Folksville USA, and all our nation’s American veterans and active military on Veterans Day 2013.

The Sedona Eye salutes Eddie Maddock’s late husband, Charles F. Maddock, Sedona. Chuck Maddock served honorably in the American Army (Germany, WWII) and was awarded a Bronze medal for his service in Korea. Chuck Maddock’s name is listed on the veterans memorial dedication park in the City of Sedona.

The Sedona Eye also salutes:

Jack C. Hallman, WWII Army Air Force Flier and former MIA POW Germany, and, Wrex W. Reed, WWII Navy Pacific, for their sacrifices and service to America. Your families salute you with love, and we’ll see you both for the holidays!

All our vets – God bless America. Land of the free and the brave. Semper Fi.

We love and miss you, Winfield Scott Walls Jr., Vietnam. We will never forget.

Thank you for your service, Stephen Michael Backes, Army-Vietnam, and Elmer Bert Tingle Jr., Army-Vietnam. Your families thank God every day that you came home alive.

We love and miss you, William Francis Ryan Sr, WWII Navy Pacific, died August 2013. Gone too soon!

We love and miss you, Wesley Milton Kuhns, Air Force, Vietnam. We will never forget you.

Anchors Away, Vaughn Ara (Babe) Morrison, WWII Navy, Pacific. Died much too soon but never forgotten!

We love and miss you, Dad – Adin Maupin, WWII Army Ski Patrol – remembered always with love.

Hats off to you, John Cornelius. Keep up the good work from all your fans!

Peace!

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