A
Vietnam Veterans Memorial for those who sacrificed their lives in the Vietnam War
The Vietnam
Veterans Memorial in Washington DC recognizes and honors the men and
women who served and sacrificed their lives in one of America's most
divisive wars. Sometimes referred to simply as 'the wall', the memorial
was born from a need to heal the nation's wounds. Conceived and designed
to make no political statement, it is a place where people can come
together and honor their loved ones. It is made of three elements: the
Wall of Names, the Three Servicemen Statue and Flagpole and the Vietnam
Women's Memorial.
Set in Constitution Gardens, the long, black granite wall is not
prominent, grand or imposing, but is simple, thoughtful, powerful and
profound. Etched into the granite are the names of the 58,249 men and
women who died and 1,200 who went missing in the Vietnam War. The two
panels of the wall extend from a central point at a wide angle, with one
side pointing towards the Washington Monument, the other towards the
Lincoln Memorial. The descent to the centre of the wall reveals a
towering 3 m (10 ft) looming shape surrounded by grassy slopes, which is
oddly ominous in its serenity. The names appear in a seemingly endless
stream, in chronological order from 1959 to 1975. Many family and friends
leave mementos or flowers.
The Three Servicemen Statue symbolizes the spirit of compromise and
reconciliation. Many veterans did not believe that the stark granite
memorial spoke of the patriotism and sacrifice made by the servicemen and
that its placement below ground hid it from view, hinting at shame. The
Three Servicemen Statue was created to appease these thoughts, showing
the valiant efforts of the armed forces rather than simply focusing on
the country's loss of life.
The third element was created after a campaign by Diane Carlson Evans, a
former army nurse, who fought to highlight the service of women in the
war. In 1993 her efforts were rewarded with the Vietnam Women's Memorial.
The sculpture depicts three uniformed women with a wounded soldier. One
nurse comforts the soldier, another kneels in thought or prayer and the
third looks to the skies for help from either a medevac helicopter or a
higher power.
This memorial is impressive and powerful in every way and it is worth
visiting to share a moment of silence for those who fought in the Vietnam
War.
