Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Open Daily : 24 Hours a Day

" A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces but
also by the men it honors, the men it remembers."
John F. Kennedy

As the most visited memorial in the Nation's Capital, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial stands as a symbol, dedicated to the courage, sacrifice and devotion to duty and country of all who served in the Vietnam Conflict. The simple and striking memorial- a polished black granite wall, contains the names of more than 58,000 Americans who lost their lives and who are still missing in action.

More than 1,000 entries were submitted anonymously to design a moving memorial to those who served during the Vietnam Conflict. A committee selected the design of young college student, Maya Lin Yin, who sensitively and powerfully developed a memorial expressing the four important requirements: (1) that the memorial be reflective and contemplative in character (2) that it harmonize with its surroundings (3) that it contain the names of all who died or remained missing and (4) that it make no political statement. Sometimes evoking overwhelming feelings, items are often left at the memorial such as pictures, flowers and medals. In addition to the wall are two sculptures, one depicting three young infantryman carrying the weapons of war and a heroic-size bronze sculpture depicting three Vietnam Era women and a wounded soldier.