Engraved in black granite, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial stands as a powerful tribute. This memorial honors the brave members of the U.S. Armed Forces. They fought in the Vietnam War and were killed or missing in action. The memorial is on the National Mall. It offers one of the most powerful scenes.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial actually consists of three separate parts. The Three Soldiers statue is one part. The Vietnam Women’s Memorial is another. And, of course, there is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. The Wall is also known as The Wall That Heals. It is perhaps the most popular feature.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall provides a powerful scene. The wall is actually made up of two identical walls. Each stretches 246 feet and 9 inches. They contain more than 58,000 names. The names are listed chronologically based on the date of casualty. Within each day, names are shown in alphabetical order.
One defining characteristic is a visitor’s ability to see their reflection. You can see your reflection at the same time as the engraved names. It connects the past and present like few other monuments can.
Just south of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall is the Vietnam Women’s Memorial. It commemorates the 265,000 women who served in the Vietnam War. Many of these women worked as nurses. The bronze structure weighs 2,000 pounds. It stands 15 feet tall. It depicts three women attending to a wounded soldier. This reflects the unity required during the conflict.
The third part is The Three Soldiers also known as The Three Servicemen. This is another moving reminder of disparate groups. These groups had to come together during the Vietnam War. Each of the three soldiers stands seven feet tall. They are situated on top of a one-foot granite base. They are arranged to appear as if gazing upon the memorial wall. They look at the names of their fellow comrades.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall is unusual. It lists each individual U.S. serviceperson killed or missing in action. The names are listed in the order in which they died or were declared missing. The first name is at the center of the memorial. It sits at the top of the wall. It is under the date 1959. That was the year of the first death.
The names are etched on separate stone panels. These panels are made of gabbro. Gabbro is a dark stone. The panels are arranged into two arms. They extend from a central point to form a wide angle. The panels are inscribed. The names appear lighter in color. The dark polished stone surface reflects visitors.
Unlike most other monuments, the Memorial Wall lies close to the ground. The walkway in front of the wall goes below ground level in the center. It rises up at the ends of the wall. One wall rises up and gives a clear view of the Washington Monument in the distance.
A competition was held for the design of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Maya Lin, a student at Yale University’s School of Architecture, submitted a student project. This was selected in 1981 as the winning design. Maya Lin was 21 years old when she submitted her design.
When Maya Lin’s design was chosen, there was disagreement. Some Vietnam veterans felt that it did not reflect heroism. Frederick Hart designed The Three Servicemen Statue as a compromise. It honors the American military. Glenna Goodacre designed the Vietnam Women’s Memorial sculpture. It depicts three uniformed women with a wounded soldier. One nurse comforts the soldier. Another kneels. The third looks to the skies.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall lists the names of over 58,000 men and women killed or missing in action. Each wall is 246 feet 9 inches long. The total length of the wall is 493 feet 6 inches. The wall is at an angle that measures 125 degrees 12 minutes. It is 10 feet 3 inches high at the center.
Dedicated in 1993, the Vietnam Women’s Memorial honors the contributions of women in the Vietnam War. A nurse sits on sandbags holding a wounded serviceman. Another searches the sky for help. A third kneels behind the sandbags, holding a helmet. Glenna Goodacre said the young serviceman is saved by the actions of these women in a monument to the living.
On any given visit, you may encounter former servicemen. The Honor Flight Network is a non-profit. It is dedicated to bringing vets to DC. They visit the memorials that honor their service. These visits are often emotional. They help provide closure for veterans. These visits reinforce the importance of their service and sacrifice. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial remains a place of reflection. It ensures their sacrifices are forever remembered.