Vietnam War Memorial - Powerful Granite

 
 At the age of twenty one, a female undergraduate at Yale 
University named Maya Lin submitted her design for the Vietnam 
Memorial. Her idea for  the memorial was extremely unique and 
controversial. After long discussions by a panel, it was chosen 
for construction. The design that she submitted was one that was 
very different in comparison to other memorials,  and it was one 
that has a tendency to leave a lot of questions on the minds of 
the visitors. On the face of the memorial there is a list of all 
those who died or are missing in the order by which they were 
lost.  It could seem to some one who did not understand the 
incident that the monument honors only those lost, but that is 
incorrect.  Maya Lins design formed into the most unique 
memorial structure of its kind, which honors all who served in 
the Vietnam War  (Colliers 23: 137). 
 The official name given to the monument was the Vietnam Veterans 
memorial. In this name alone it is clear that it was not erected 
for the sole purpose of honoring only those who were lost in the 
conflict. The term KIA was the abbreviation used for those people 
who were killed in action, and these people represent 47,000 of 
the 58,000 names on the wall. The other 11,000 were soldiers who 
died from crashes, snake bites, illnesses, and other non-combat 
related deaths (Olson 227).  There is no distinction made between 
the two groups on the monument. The structure is a v-shaped 
polished granite slab that unlike other monuments has no message 
of honor or patriotism. All of those subjects are left to the 
thoughts of the beholder. People often find therapy in locating 
the name of a companion or a loved one. The Vietnam Veterans 
Memorial is by far the most emotional moving war monument in 
Washington, and that alone makes it very unique(Colliers 
138). 
 In comparison with other monuments, the Vietnam Veterans 
Memorial is vastly different. A point of comparison could be the 
Marine Corps War Memorial, otherwise known as the Iwo Jima 
monument. This monument is a sculpture of three soldiers risking 
their lives to keep the American flag flying. The structure has a 
deep sense of understood patriotism and there is a great deal of 
honor that is also associated with it. Unlike the Vietnam 
Veterans Memorial,  the Iwo Jima monument is a tribute only to 
the Marines who served in World War Two. The Vietnam Veterans 
Memorial has no such message of honor and courage, but rather an 
atmosphere that causes visitors to reflect on the conflict 
(Colliers 138-139). 
 The only monument that  is similar the Vietnam Veterans Memorial 
is the memorial to Ulysses S. Grant. It is located at the foot of 
the capital and has no clear cut  meaning. There is no political 
message that can be taken away from Grants memorial. It neither 
glorifies war nor possesses an antiwar message,  and there is no 
moral lesson that can be taken away from this monument (Colliers 
138).  One of the great things about the Vietnam Veterans 
Memorial is that it allows the public to form its own opinion of 
the conflict with out forcing a political message. It is because 
of this ambiguity that the monument is so unique. 
 Unlike other monuments, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial can not be 
seen from a distance. One must commit to see it, and then walk 
down to it. This is just the opposite of other monuments such as 
the Lincoln Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial which were 
created to show the men on a higher God-like platform. Also, it 
is not at all uncommon to find men and women alike weeping at the 
base of the monument (Colliers 138-139) Cynics could argue and 
say they morn only for their loved ones, and were not moved by 
the power of the monument, but this is not always the case. The 
Vietnam Veterans Memorial is an experience that affects thousands 
of people daily, and changes the lives of almost as many. This is 
a characteristic that no other war monument in the country seems 
to posses. 
 The first inscription on the wall reads 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 
FROM US. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is also unique in the 
sense that is honors all who fought, as most monuments honor only 
those who died. From this one could imply that the veterans were 
not sufficiently honored by the people of America. (Colliers 139-
140) 
 It is clear that the erection of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial 
was a wonderful addition to the Washington Mall of monuments. 
There is some disagreement as to the exact meaning  of the 
monument, but that is because in was designed for that very 
purpose. Maya Lin was quoted to say that she wanted a quiet 
place, meant for personal reflection and private reckoning 
(Colliers 139) That was exactly what she gave to the country in 
her unique interpretation of what the monument should be. 
 
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