CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial honors service members of the U.S. armed forces who served during the Vietnam War. The memorial consists of three parts: the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, the Three Soldiers, and the Vietnam Women's Memorial.

Viet Nam Memorial by Paul Sager, on Flickr


The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall was completed in 1982. The Memorial Wall is in Constitution Gardens adjacent to the National Mall, just northeast of the Lincoln Memorial. The memorial is maintained by the U.S. National Park Service, and receives around 3 million visitors each year.

The Memorial Wall is made up of two long black granite walls, polished to a high finish making them appear to have a mirror effect; while etched with the names of the servicemen being honored in 140 panels. The wall originally listed 57,939 names when it was dedicated in 1982. Names have since been added, and as of May 2018, there were 58,320 names, including eight women.

Vietnam Memorial


The Memorial Wall was designed by American architect Maya Lin. In 2007, it was ranked tenth on the "List of America's Favorite Architecture" by the American Institute of Architects.

A short distance from the Memorial Wall is a bronze statue named The Three Servicemen. The statue depicts three soldiers who appear to be looking on in solemn tribute at the names of their fallen comrades. The distance between the two allows them to interact while minimizing the effect of the addition on Lin's design.

Viet Nam Memorial


Nearly 10,000 women in uniform actively served in-country during the Vietnam War. The Vietnam Women’s Memorial was dedicated in 1993 as part of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Vietnam Women's Memorial


There are several transportable replicas of the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial created so those who are not able to travel to Washington, D.C. can simulate the experience of visiting the Wall.

Viet Nam Memorial


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camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Very nice images Paul.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Impressive.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I lived in DC area in the mid- to late-1980's. Each time I visited, hundreds of mementos had been laid along the base and allowed to remain for a period of time; and there were always dozens of people touching the engraved names. It's an incredibly moving experience for those of us impacted by that war.

Your photos nicely document the memorial and statues, but it's strange to see them missing that of-the-moment presence.

charlie71

Thank you

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

#1 is one of the nicest images of the wall I have seen. Thank you.

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

I had the great honor of knowing Lynda Van DeVanter, author of "Home Before Morning," a Vietnam War nurse who was one of the driving forces behind the creation of the Vietnam Veterans Womens Project. When she passed, the honorariums from the Vietnam Veterans Association were overflowing.

Every time I see the nurses' statue, I think of Lynda.

A brief obituary in the New York Times can be read here: https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/23/us/lynda-van-devanter-nurse-who-became-chronicler-of-her-wartime-pain-dies-at-55.html

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Very nicely photographed, Paul.

pmorin Loc: Huntington Beach, Palm Springs

We have family in Fairfax and often visit DC. Each time I go to The Wall, I find myself lost in the memory of those turbulent and disturbing years of the war. Each time I run my fingers over the names of those I knew who did not come back. Friends from my school years, a brother, brothers from another mother, all of them......
Your photos bring it all back.

P

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you pmorin, Ken, Fred, Steve, charlie71, Linda, Jerry, William! I worked as an IT consultant with District Government for nearly 10-years and had a corporate apartment in Penn Quarter. I had a lot of opportunities to visit the Wall including the early morning visit that are some of these images. One of those summers a college buddy and I walked over and traced the name of his uncle. Except for perishables, all of the materials left in memory at the wall are collected and stored by the Park Service. I believe a museum is planned underground near the wall where these items will be shared. I've talked to a few docents over the years, but I forget if the items are collected very week or every day. There was / is a veteran who places laminated biographies of soldiers on the week of their birthday.

LPigott Loc: Monterey Peninsula, CA

Amazingly moving. Especially now. I feel that war was the turning point for our country, sadly creating a generation of skeptics forever ..

LeeK Loc: Washington State

I've never been there. Your images show that it is a very compelling memorial. Nicely done.

J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio

Excellent set Paul. Thank you all who have served

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Excellent tribute!

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Your first image is probably the best I’ve seen of the wall itself--others are first-rate, too.