Ribbon of Life Sculpture

In Memory of all who have lost their lives in the Superstition Mountains near Apache Junction,  AZ.  

"The Ribbon of Life" sculpture will be a 15' long by 10' tall memorial piece of art. The display will incorporate pieces of the wreckage recovered from the 2011 plane crash.  The installation will recognize all who have lost their lives in the Superstition Mountains near Apache Junction, AZ.   Those who have perished in air crashes will be recognized individually by name.

(Note:  Due to feedback and cost we have made revisions to the original plans.  The sculpture is now smaller and will be situated horizontally, so keep that in mind when viewing the prototype photo.)

It will reside atop a hill, adjacent to the beautiful memorial bench, overlooking the majestic mountain at the Superstition Mountain Museum in Apache Junction, AZ.

The sculpture will be a historical gift to the museum. 

The project is in underway with renowned sculptor Louis Longi of Laguna Beach. Graciously, he is donating his time and skill on this unique piece of historical art, unlike any other in the world. For more information about the museum visit http://www.superstitionmountainmuseum.org.

This will be the final resting place for the ashes of my children who lost their lives in the 2011 crash. 

Update:  Installation is scheduled for July of this year!

Read about the people who have lost their lives in air crashes in the Superstition Mountains near Apache Junction, AZ: (Note: their names are grouped by accident and in chronological order.)

12.15.15
Chad Frary- Flight Nurse, 38
David Schneider- Pilot, 51

11.23.11
Shawn Perry - Passenger, 39
Morgan Perry- Passenger, 9
Logan Perry- Passenger, 8
Luke Perry-Passenger, 6
Joseph Hardwick- Passenger, 22
Russel Hardy- Pilot, 31

07.26.71
William Stone - Air Force Second Lt., 23

08.25.48
Kenneth Kirkman - Air Force Cadet
Joseph Freeman Jr.- Air Force Cadet

Read their stories here:

December 15, 2015
Native Air Ambulance (Air Methods) pilot David Schneider, 51, of Gilbert, and flight nurse Chad Frary, 38, of Gold Canyon were fatally injured when their Airbus 350 helicopter crashed into the Superstition Mountains near Globe, AZ. Derek Boehm, 38 a medic, survived the accident and was critically injured. The NTSB investigation is still underway and more information about this accident will be available at a later date.

November 23rd, 2011 Thanksgiving Eve
My three children Morgan 9, Logan 8, Luke 6, and their father Shawn 39, boarded a Turbine Commander in Mesa, AZ bound for Safford. The plane was owned by Ponderosa Aviation and piloted by Shawn's business partner Russel Hardy. The passenger Joseph Hardwick in the right seat was just going along for the ride that night. They were only airborne for six minutes and then they were gone. The pilot took off from Falcon Field in Mesa, became disoriented in the darkness and flew into the side of the Superstition Mountain near Flat Iron instantly killing all aboard.

July 26, 1971
Second Lt. William Stone 23 of San Jose, CA
T-38 Talon Jet Trainer
Lt. Stone was a member of the 3525th pilot training squadron was on a routine solo training mission out of Williams Air Force Base in Arizona when the crash occurred. Witnesses East of Mesa and in Apache Junction said they saw a huge fireball that lit up the west face of the mountain, apparently when the aircraft hit a cliff at the 4300 foot level just 700 feet below the summit of the Superstitions.

August 25th, 1948
Air Force Cadets, Kenneth Kirkman and Joseph Freeman Jr., were killed when their T-6 trainer crashed in the Superstition Mountains 16 miles northeast of Williams Air Force Base.
The aircraft was being flown "under the hood" by Cadet Freeman when it flew into a steep ridge within the Superstitions. Wreckage is scattered for half a mile.

"Life if much like a ribbon in the wind; it is blown in many different directions as in our day to day lives.

Like life, it can float gracefully during good times and fly out of control during turbulent times, ups and downs, ebb and flow.

On this ribbon of life will be memorable photos showing all that view a life of love and joy.

The ribbon will reach towards the sky that represents their passing and allowing their spirit to blow up to the clouds and heaven.

The ribbon will have ripples on the ground and pass over parts of the airplane wreckage, but not being disturbed or interrupted as it blows gracefully upward to heaven."

–LOUIS LONGI

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All funds donated on this site will be given to the Superstition Mountain Museum in Apache Junction, AZ and placed in the "Wings Sculpture" account to pay for the cost of materials and incidentals for the sculpture.