Here at the Chicago Remembers Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the past echoes. This place invites reflection unlike many memorials. It doesn’t demand remembrance but offers a space for it.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza focuses on a fountain. A slab of black granite displays almost 3,000 names. These are Illinois servicemen who died in Vietnam. The names are arranged chronologically.
Flanking the fountain is a terraced lawn. Chicagoans can descend from State Street. They can stroll along the Riverwalk. People stop, rest, and choose how to remember. It is a powerful and contemplative space.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial echoes Maya Lin’s design. Her design was for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. It also evokes memorials built after the Second World War. These were parks, schools, and bridges.
Chicago’s Vietnam memorial was almost an afterthought. It was a city project undertaken with little public input. This came in response to Lin’s monument being built in Washington.
Mayor Jane Byrne dedicated the monument. This was before a crowd of veterans and families. The dedication was on a chilly Veterans Day. It was the same day as the Washington memorial’s dedication. Chicago’s memorial clearly converses with Lin’s design. It meant to redress perceived shortcomings.
The city’s veterans received an overdue thank you. But the memorial fountain felt inadequate. It was stranded on a traffic island. Only in 2005 did the fountain move. It became part of Chicago’s downtown riverfront renovation. This was in the wake of a new war.
The memorial plaza is tucked into a Riverwalk corner. Gary Tillery’s sculpture supplements it. He is a Vietnam veteran. The sculpture is of the Vietnam Service Medal. It is set into the wall behind the names.
The space feels larger than it is. “Chicago Remembers” is engraved in the stone wall. It is both descriptive and prescriptive.
The memorial was restored after years of neglect. Names had faded on the wall. The renovated plaza was unveiled at a ceremony. It featured moments of sadness and pride.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a tribute. It honors all Armed Forces veterans. They served in the Vietnam War. The memorial features 2,936 names. These are Illinoisans killed in the conflict.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in 2005. Several names had faded in recent years. The restored memorial was unveiled on an anniversary. It marked the last combat troops leaving Vietnam. It also marked the return of prisoners of war.
Kevin Barszcz spoke at the unveiling. He directs the Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs. He said the day honored those who answered the nation’s call. More than 58,000 military members lost their lives.
Gary Tillery created the central bronze sculpture. It was inspired by the medallion. The medallion was given to all Vietnam veterans. Enamel recreations of the service ribbon flank it.
Tillery served in the U.S. Air Force in Saigon. His experiences in Vietnam inspired stories in his book. The bronze and enamel sculpture stands 12 feet high. It is 16 feet wide.
Mayor Brandon Johnson announced the restoration. It followed years of deferred maintenance. He declared March 29th as Vietnam Veterans Day in Chicago. The city commemorates the sacrifices of its veterans.
Michelle Woods also spoke. She is the Deputy Commissioner of 2FM. She witnessed the memorial’s profound impact in 2005. An ongoing maintenance plan ensures its longevity.
Jim Balcer commended Barszcz’s dedication. Balcer is a Vietnam War veteran. He is the former Director of Veteran Affairs. Together, they brought the monument back to its former glory. This Vietnam Veterans Memorial will continue to be a place of honor. It will be a place of remembrance for generations to come.