Perhaps you have wondered about this black granite stone. This is the Veteran’s Memorial Plaque, a part of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. It stands to honor those who died after the war. Their deaths resulted from injuries they sustained in Vietnam. However, they did not meet the Department of Defense guidelines for inclusion on the Wall.
The Veteran’s Memorial Plaque is a testament to enduring sacrifice. It is located near the Three Soldiers statue. This places it at the northeast corner of the plaza.
This memorial plaque is a carved block of black granite. It measures three by two feet. The inscription reads: “In memory of the men and women who served in the Vietnam War and later died as a result of their service. We honor and remember their sacrifice.”
Ruth Coder Fitzgerald founded The Vietnam War In Memory Memorial Plaque Project. She worked tirelessly for years. Her goal was to see this plaque completed. Though the organization has since been dissolved, its website remains. The Vietnam War Project at Texas Tech University maintains it.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial has three parts. There is the Three Soldiers statue. Then, there is the Vietnam Women’s Memorial. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall is the most popular. Maya Lin designed the Wall. It is a minimalist design. From a distance, it looks like a gash in the landscape. Some called it a black gash of shame and sorrow.
The names of over 58,000 service members are on the wall. They gave their lives between 1956 and 1975. The names appear in chronological order. The wall starts and ends at the center. Guidebooks are available at the entrances. They help visitors locate specific names.
Each name has a symbol. The symbol shows the service member’s status. It indicates either missing or confirmed dead. On the west wall, the symbol comes before the name. On the east wall, the symbol follows the name.
The Vietnam Women’s Memorial honors women’s contributions. Most of these women were nurses. The memorial shows three uniformed women. They are with a wounded soldier. Glenna Goodacre said the serviceman is saved. It is a monument to the living.
Visitors often leave sentimental items at the memorial. This practice started during construction. A veteran threw his brother’s Purple Heart into the concrete. Thousands of items are left each year. One item was a sliding glass storm door. It had a scene from Vietnam. It also had the names of U.S. POWs and MIAs.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund raised $8.4 million through private donations. Congress authorized the site next to the Lincoln Memorial in 1980. The design competition received 1,421 submissions. Maya Lin’s design was selected.
The memorial was dedicated on November 13, 1982. This dedication was part of a five-day ceremony. The event included a reading of names. There were also unit reunions and a parade.
So, as you reflect here at the Veteran’s Memorial Plaque, remember the enduring cost. Remember the sacrifices that extend beyond the battlefield.