EATON — The Veterans and Athletes United’s (VAU) Fallen Heroes Memorial, made of 7,040 dog tags which create an image of the American flag, was on display at the Preble County Courthouse Plaza, 101 E. Main St., in downtown Eaton, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 21-23.
Preble County Veteran Services hosted the local event.
The dog tags are engraved with the names of the service members who have fallen in the War on Terrorism.
The flag is built and funded by Veterans. It has traveled to more than 50 locations nationwide since 2018. All proceeds from its travel go to support Gold Star family organizations and GWOT Memorial Foundation’s mission to build a national memorial in Washington, D.C.
This 28-foot wide by 6-foot-tall American flag symbolizes the shape of the flag when draped on a fallen service members casket. It is formed of over 7,000 dog tags of all those who have fallen in the War on Terror. The 50 gold stars honoring all gold star families nationwide. Displayed in front of the flag is a battlefield cross sculpted from mahogany wood by veteran artist Alicia Dietz.
Tags are in alphabetical order ranging from Sept. 11, 2001 to Dec. 31, 2017; thereafter the tags are in chronological order of the date Killed in Action (KIA).
When it’s not on the road the memorial is displayed at the VAU veterans retreat in Richmond, Virginia.
