The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial is probably the most visited memorial today?Notice it is not called The Vietnam War Memorial. The reason is, Vietnam was never a declared war.  It was, and still is today, the Vietnam Conflict. And yet it represents a war that most people did not support and was very unpopular at the time.  It all began with a wounded Vietnam Veteran named Jan Scruggs.  He began the Viet Nam memorial fund with money he earned by selling some property.  This memorial was 100% paid for by public donations and no tax payer money at all!

On July 1, 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed a bill authorizing the building of the memorial near the Lincoln Memorial in Constitution Gardens.  

Once again...a contest was held for the best design.  Only this time the prize wasn't $500 it was $20,000.  The rules were open except these:
1.  The memorial HAD to contain all the names of all the Americans that lost their lives or were MIA's (missing in action) in Viet Nam.
2. It had to harmonize with it's location.
3. It can't make a political statement about the war, but must honor those who served.

Unlike the past where only a few entries were submitted, this memorial had 1,421 designs submitted.  The winner was surprisingly first of all a woman...not a man.  And the woman was a 21-year old Asian-American from Yale.  Her design was really a homework assignment and her teacher gave her a "B".  Ha!   

The design is simple  deep V and is a stone wall that cuts into the small hill of land. The wall is nearly 500 feet long made from black Indian granite.  The names, which were sandblasted (not carved) into the granite are not listed alphabetically.  They are listed chronologically in the order they became a casualty of the Viet Nam war.  Beside each name is either a Cross or a Diamond.  A diamond signifies death.  A cross means they are MIA's.  What to do if a MIA is discovered alive?  Or is later proven dead?  The cross can be later changed to a Diamond if discovered dead.  Or if the person is found alive, then a Circle is drawn around the Cross.

Some people feel that at the time of the design, Maya Ying Lin had no way to know that her wall would do so much to help heal this nation and some of the Veterans or families that visit.  The wall's dark black granite also reflects the sun and land around it.  But it also reflects the images of the faces of those who are living (and visit) on those who have died.  For many this is spiritual.  And if you view it from the air and see the "V" shape, many feel that it also creates a sign of "Victory" over either death, communism,  or oppression in general.  It's all personal interpretation to each person who comes.

An estimated 15,000 attended the Memorial Dedication in November of 1982.  

Many also felt that besides the wall, figures of soldiers needed to be there. So, in 1984 a 7 foot statue of 3 soldiers designed by Frederick Hart was added to the site.  In 1993 the Vietnam Women's Memorial designed by Glenna Goodacre, was added to honor the contribution of women veterans (mostly nurses).

I've been there a few times and there were always Viet Nam vets there to help guide you to look for the name you are seeking.  There is a book directory over by the statue of 3 soldiers to help you find someone also.

Many visitors leave flowers, mementos, photos, medals along the wall.  Some take a piece of paper, place it over the name of their lost loved one and scratch with a soft pencil to capture the image.

The Viet Nam Memorial has this inscribed on it:

"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 for us.
Our Nation honors the courage, sacrifice and devotion to duty and country
of its Vietnam veterans."