Exhibit goes 'Above and Beyond' to honor those lost in Vietnam

There is a National Vietnam Art Museum in Chicago. In one room, one with a 24-foot-tall ceilings, there's appear to be a maze of wind chimes hanging down.

In fact these are the replica dog tags of the 58,307 soldiers who were killed in Vietnam. Each dog tag has the name, military branch and date of death.

The exhibit is called "Above and Beyond" and is the only other site in the U.S., where all 58,307 veteran's deaths are honored, other that the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C. (This information was provided by Jim Cramer of Priest River, who is another Vietnam vet.

Another story: Most all "old-timers" know what "Old Betsy" was. The younger generation would probably think the Old Betsy was some old lady, sitting in a rocking chair on the front porch.

Actually the term came from pioneer Davey Crockett. Crockett had run for the state legislature in Tennessee and was elected. He was a spokesman for the poor farmers of Tennessee. His constituents in Tennessee made him so popular that they presented him with a 40-caliber flintlock rifle with the motto "Go Ahead" inscribed in silver near the sight.

Crockett named this hunting rifle "Old Betsy" in honor of his older sister. In the modern age, the term is referred to as an old standby, dependable rifle.

Roger Gregory is a Vietnam veteran and business owner in Priest River.