This is one of the most famous memorials in the world and caused a stir when it was unveiled in 1982 because of its unusual, but beautiful design; it receives around 3 million visitors a year. It is made of black polished granite in a large V shape and has the names of over 58,000 soldiers carved into it.

It is a very calm place and undeniably emotive even if you were born after the Vietnamese conflict. The other parts of the memorial are comprised of a statue named The Three Soldiers, featuring a White American, Black American and Hispanic American. This statue is close to the main memorial without imposing upon it. South of the wall there is also the Vietnam Women’s Memorial, which is another bronze statue dedicated to the women who served as nurses during the Vietnam War.

Although there are some wide open spaces and shading trees, there is little else for children, so this is more popular with adults and those coming to remember soldiers lost. The memorial is situated in Constitution Gardens and is also home to the famous Reflection Pools, the most famous of which is that east of the Lincoln Memorial often seen in photographs of the Washington Monument. These gardens also play host to a healthy population of grey squirrels. The gardens are quite safe and are open until midnight most nights.

Written by  Vikkie Chapman.

Add comment

Comments, reviews and questions

Vietnam Memorial, Washington

Two long black granite walls in the shape of a V house almost 60,000 names of men and women who gave their lives during the Vietnam War. This simple, yet moving monument holds power in the thousands of names inscribed into the black stone. It's not uncommon to see visitors rubbing a pencil and paper over a name to commemorate the fallen.

 

Review posted 18th December 2007 by katie_f.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Walking through this park-like area, the memorial appears as a rift in the earth - a long, polished black stone wall, emerging from and receding into the earth. Approaching the memorial, the ground slopes gently downward, and the low walls emerging on either side, growing out of the earth, extend and converge at a point below and ahead. Walking into the grassy site contained by the walls of this memorial, we can barely make out the carved names upon the memorial's walls. These names, seemingly infinite in number, convey the sense of overwhelming numbers, while unifying these individuals into a whole...

 

Review posted 10th July 2007 by George Monkhouse.

Add a comment, review or question

Make a comment Ask a question Write a review

Review title

Your comment

Your rating

Choose rating... Don't go Go Must go

Your name

Your email address