Aberdeen Regional Airport
War Memorial
This November 11th
(Veterans Day) 2004 Aberdeen South Dakota witnessed a proud event. The second of
three bronze soldiers (pictured below) was dedicated at our new airport
terminal; the War Memorial Building. By now every one in our fair town has heard
the name Benjamin Victor.
The
young artist, who recently graduated from Northern State University, designed
our monument to tell the story of war. Reading from left to right the monument
starts by visually depicting the actuality of war with the Combat Soldier. The
central figure in the grouping is the Victory Soldier, he represents the ideal
purpose of war: the victory of American values; freedom, justice, democracy, and
so many of the other precepts our country holds as true. The third figure will
be a female soldier representing the aftermath of war. She will be a visual
metaphor for the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual healing that our
soldiers and experience after war. As she crouches on the opposite the Combat
Soldier, the Aftermath Soldier will hold the final icon, a single rose. With the
icons of the weapon, the flag, and finally the rose in place the sculpture will
represent the reflections of our nation as we take the time to contemplate,
heal, and learn from war so that peace can eventually be attained.
This incredibly moving piece of artwork will not be complete until the
third soldier is installed. We are hoping to continue the veteran’s day
dedications tradition, but this will be impossible without local citizens and
businesses providing financial support. Below is a digital image depicting what
the monument will look like when the third soldier is installed. We need your
support to make this momentous occasion happen.
This project is being hosted by:
City of Aberdeen
Brown County
Aberdeen Regional Airport Board of Directors
NECOG
Aberdeen Development
Corporation