Above & Beyond

[thedrifter]

Above & Beyond Memorial
DC Has the Wall, Chicago Has the Ceiling


On Memorial Day 2001, the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum added a stirring and spectacular new exhibit to its already highly praised fine art collection. The work of art, an immense 10 x 40 foot sculpture entitled Above & Beyond, is comprised of imprinted dog tags, one for each of the more than 58,000 service men and women who died in the Vietnam War. Above & Beyond is the first new permanent Vietnam War memorial, other than The Wall in Washington, D.C., to list all those killed in action. When visitors first enter the museum, they will hear a sound like wind chimes coming from above them and their attention will be drawn upward 24 feet to the ceiling of the two-story high atrium. There they will see tens of thousands of metal dog tags, spaced evenly one inch apart, suspended from fine lines which will allow them to move like a living thing with the shifts in air currents.

The National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum, a not-for-profit organization, expects the bulk of the funding for the project to come from people across the country and around the world who will sponsor individual dog tags at a cost of $25.00 each. It is a rare opportunity for thousands of citizens to join together in paying tribute to those whose lives were lost in service to their country. If a supporter wishes to sponsor a tag but does not have a specific name request, the museum will assign a name. Dog tag sponsors can choose to receive a duplicate dog tag as a memento at no extra cost. The installation of Above & Beyond at the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum will be a singular honor for Chicago.


If you hold a real weapon in your hand,
you will feel its character strongly.
It begs to be used. It is fearsome.
Its only purpose is death,
and its power is not just in the material
from which it is made,
but also from the intention of its maker.
It is regrettable that weapons must be used,
but occasionally, survival demands it.
The wise go forth with weapons
only as a last resort.
They never rejoice in the skill of weapons,
nor do they glorify war.
When death, pain and destruction are visited
upon what you hold to be most sacred,
the spiritual price is devastating.
What hurts more than one's own suffering
is bearing witness to the suffering of others.
The regret of seeing
human beings at their worst
and sheer pain of not
being able to help the victims
can never be redeemed.
If you go personally to war,
you cross the line yourself.
You sacrifice ideals for survival
and fury of killing.
That alters you forever.
That is why no one rushes to be a soldier.
Think before you want to change
so unalterably.
The stakes are not merely one's life,
but one's very own humanity.


http://www.nvvam.org/index.html





Sempers

Roger

[Stick]

Roger,
Thanks for this post. What a spectacular idea but after looking at it I'm just about as choked up as I was when I went to the Wall.

[Bernadette]

That is awsome. thanx for posting this.
B

[philly]

What a phenomenal work of art. The artist's inspiration behind creating such a monumental piece is incredible. I look so forward to visiting the exhibit.

[Wazza]

Roger,

That is a truly magnificent memorial. The fact that each breath of fresh air instills life into the piece is pure genius. And the words that are posted with it - how apt and poignant.

Lest We Forget

[1CAVCCO15MED]

Amazing

I hope to see it sometime. I may get to Chicago next summer. I will sure go to this museum.

[Tina]

Great site.. thanks for the post..
love ya
Your friend and God Bless,
Tina

[catman]

Thanks Roger, a true moving experiance. Will try to get down to see it.

Trav