The Vietnam Memorial
Fatoumatta S
July 25, 2022
Poetry is dimensionalized throughout the Vietnam Memorial. The names speak for themselves. Introspection and contemplation are inevitable upon a visit to the Vietnam Memorial. A director of the Smithsonian museum referred to the memorial as “a community of feelings, almost a sacred precinct,” and a veteran of the war labeled it as “the parade we never got.”
The Vietnam Memorial, located in Washington D.C., is a sacred symbol to honor the countless brave men and women who sacrificed their lives during the Vietnam War. There are over 58,000 names inscribed in the memorial, all representing either confirmed deaths or those who are still missing.
Congress authorized the Vietnam Memorial Fund in 1980 to create the memorial and this organization became an embodiment of recognition for the Americans who served in the war. Two years later in 1983, the Memorial was officially dedicated and still attracts millions of visitors each year decades later.
The Vietnam Memorial symbolizes more than the honor and courage of those who served, but it also allows a sanctuary and safe place for people to connect, share memories, and remember people. In an effort to further preserve the legacy of those who sacrificed all in Vietnam, VVMF is committed to finding a photo to go with each of the more than 58,000 names on The Wall (WPR). The Wall of Faces allows family and friends to share memories, post pictures, and connect with each other. The list of names are chronologically inscribed based on the date of the person’s casualty. The list and order of names are symbolic of the sacrifices and immortalization of each sacrifice in history.
The location of the Vietnam Memorial was strategically placed; the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund was determined for the Memorial to be in a very open, park-like area, and its deliberate location on the western side of Constitution Gardens to be its home. In the design, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund had four specific requirements that they wanted to make sure we were fulfilled: one- a characterization of solemnity and reflection; two- to coordinate and fit well with its surroundings, three; contain all the names of those who passed or are missing; four- to have no political stance on the war. The Vietnam Memorial is in proximity to both the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument. The strategic designer of the memorial is Maya Lin, who intended the Memorial as being almost “a park within a park,” and a place of peace, harmony, safety, and silence. Therefore, the polished finish of the granite walls and its reflectiveness allows the Vietnam Memorial to also act as a mirror, reflecting the beautiful atmosphere of Constitution Gardens and the surrounding nature and environment.
Each wall in the Vietnam Memorial consists of 70 inscribed planets ranging up to 137 lines of names. Each line averages about five names and each panel is chronologically labeled from one to seventy. At the apex of the memorial is East and West Panel 1 and at the end of the memorial is East and West Panel 70.
The very first casualty, on East Panel 1 of the 58,000, dates back to 1959. The remaining casualties continued from left to right (one whole line), then to the bottom of each panel. The most recent casualty, on West Panel 70, dates back to 1975.
On the top of the Wall is inscribed “in honor of the men and women of the armed forces of the united states who served in the Vietnam war. The names of those who gave their lives and of those who remain missing are inscribed in the order they were taken from us.” On the bottom of the wall is inscribed: “our nation honors the courage, sacrifice, and devotion to duty and country of its Vietnam veterans. This memorial was built with private contributions from the American people. November 11, 1982.”
One thing that stood out to me about the memorial, unlike many other war memorials or neighboring memorials, is the fact that it did not have a description of the war, or any elaborations, unlike other war memorials or neighboring memorials, but instead, it merely focused on casualties. Seeing as it was an intentional criteria to keep the memorial as apolitical as possible, it is also understandable why that is the case. The controversy of mixed opinions on the Vietnam War affected the memorial in the sense that its design is very neutral and other than denoting that the memorial is commemorating the casualties of the war, there is no further context. I believe despite wanting to keep the war effort low profile the effort gone into creating the monument symbolizes the United States Armed Force’s effort to always remember the death of fellow soldiers and respect the lives lost. This memorial is a testament to this sentiment which is why I believe it is so significant. During the Vietnam War, American relations were tense; with only 35% of the population approving of how President Lyndon B. Johnson handled the war. This was a time when many people also refused to fight in the war and protested it. Although the Vietnam War Memorial has no political stances involved within the memorial, neighboring memorials such as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, located at 1964 Independence Ave.
Towards the end of King’s life, the Vietnam War became a major point of focus, and he made very clear his stance in opposition to the war. His stance is reflected throughout the MLK memorial; for instance in a quotation from his speech at the Anti-War Conference he stated “I oppose the war in Vietnam because I love America. I speak out against it not in anger but with anxiety and sorrow in my heart, and above all with a passionate desire to see our beloved country stand as a moral example of the world.” While the US spent increasingly more on military equipment, they spent increasingly less on anti-poverty programs, pouring millions of dollars to merely hold troops during the Vietnam War. The priority of the war led to the US failing black citizens and neglecting civil rights within their own country, which created immense dissatisfaction in many involved in the Civil Rights Movement. However, this is only one group of many who disapproved of the war.
Another thing that stood out to me is the timeline of the Vietnam Memorial. Unlike many other prominent memorials, this one took significantly less time – three years. For example, it took eight years to build the Lincoln memorial, it took twenty-seven years to build the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr memorial, and it took nine years to build the memorial for Iwo Jima. The shorter completed time frame in relativity to other monuments both within and outside of Washington D.C. struck me as a confirmation of the intentional simplification of the monument. Nonetheless, this monument unites those in grief nationwide and allows people a sanctuary to reflect. It does not symbolize a controversial war, but rather the gallant men and women unfortunately lost.
Upon ending the memorial I was taken back by its solemn vibe. The bustling city of D.C slowly began to fade as I and the people with me were in silence. Mutual respect for the sacrifices made by these soldiers hung in the air as people opted for silence. At the memorial, I saw a card from a middle school thanking the soldiers. The somberness mixed with gratitude brought out an appreciative side of me, despite also opposing this war.
In this short video, you will see my attempt to encapsulate this feeling as I take a silent walkthrough through the memorial. The walkthrough features the statue you see when you enter the memorial, a book with the names of fallen or missing soldiers, dog tags, the actual monument, and the reflection of the Washington Monument in the background.
Representation of fatalities:
Below are some more resources you can use to gain more information. Enjoy!
https://www.nps.gov/vive/index.htmhttps://www.defense.gov/Multimedia/Experience/Vietnam-Veterans-Memorial/https://www.vvmf.org/About-The-Wall/https://washington.org/DC-guide-to/vietnam-veterans-memorialhttps://www.nationalparks.org/connect/blog/24-things-know-when-visiting-vietnam-veterans-memorialhttps://www.nps.gov/mlkm/index.htmhttps://www.njvvmf.org/blog/