The Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Wall, a 60-foot expanse of black
marble inscribed with the names
of every veteran to lose his or
her life in the Vietnam conflict, is
perhaps the most striking
memorial in Washington, D.C.,
where it stands near the Lincoln
Memorial. Designed by Maya
Ying Lin, and dedicated in 1982,
the wall currently bears the
names of over 58,000 men and
women who perished in Vietnam.
The Memorial Wall has become
a catalyst for healing for the
families of veterans who were
killed in Vietnam, as well as for
surviving Vietnam-era veterans
and their families. Many visitors
to the Memorial Wall bring gifts
or leave messages to their fallen
loved ones for others to read
and share.
A sculpture of three veterans
supporting each other, created
by Frederick Hart, which stands
near the Wall, is also a part of
the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
