Maya Lin, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, 1982, granite, 2 acres within Constitution Gardens, (National Mall, Washington, D.C.), speakers: Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker. Created by Beth Harris and Steven Zucker.
I am a veteran of the US Army and began my service in 1971 as things were cooling off in Vietnam. My brother served their with honor for over 2 years and only came home when he was severely wounded. The memorial designed by Ms Lin while criticized by some, I find wholly appropriate and profound. While some say it is a scar, my brother found it a place of remembrance for his departed comrades. He said to him it symbolized the open arms of his country (never minding those minority that didn't). When he visited he would hug his fellow veterans. Ms Lin's creation can be interpreted many ways but my brother who would eventually pass away from the aftereffects of his injuries found the memorial a place of healing for which he thanked the designer for.
When I was 4 or 5 years old I had a neighbor who was 18 years old he was like my big brother to me, he worked for Pepsi cola in Baltimore, md I don’t remember his name but I remember asking my 14 year old sister we’re he went and she said Vietnam then a few months later she said he got killed in Vietnam and would not ever come back home I don’t remember his name but I would like to know his name we lived in Elmora Ave and he lived across our back alley from us if anyone knows of him or his name please let me know, Because I want to go to the wall and thank him for being my big brother even for a short time. I’ve always missed him growing up and would love to know his name when I go to visit him at the wall
As a Vietnam vet I want to thank Maya Lin for designing this memorial, I knew nothing about it when I first saw it but I understood it immediately, the gash in the side of our country, and both ends running into the ground and pointing at the Washington monument and Lincoln memorial. Black granite with my dead buddy’s names on it. Maya being Asian is so appropriate and to me a miracle straight from God himself. I salute you!
Maya Lin's words are so eloquent. I'm Vietnamese, so my feeling about this memorial is very complex. Nevertheless, I decided to visit this memorial. Although I did not know any of those name, the site moved me deeply.
I watched an interview conducted with Maya Lin when she was 21 years old after she won the opportunity to design this monument. She said something to the effect that in order to heal from pain we must recognize that a tragedy actually happened. These are not her words verbatim, but I’ve paraphrased what she stated. She was very mature at 21.
I visited this place last year and just being there I was overwhelmed with a feeling of sadness..I couldn’t help but to cry..something took over me idk I can’t describe it. Such a powerful place..
"The names on the Wall appear without rank or even their affiliation with a branch of the military service. The only symbols found alongside names indicate whether or not a person's death was confirmed: a cross indicates missing in action and a diamond indicates killed in action. If the person listed MIA, missing in action, is found alive, the cross is changed into a circle, to indicate life. In its quiet way, therefore, the Memorial challenges the classicism and racism that keeps people apart in society. For example, on panel 1W at the apex of the Memorial, two Billie Joe Williams sit side by side, one was an officer, the other an enlisted man, one was black, the other white, one Billie Joe was found on the battle field, the other remains missing. These two names provide a microcosm of the war by making visible the community of suffering that encompasses all segments of society." Quote from Margaret Rose LaWare's "Public Space and postmodernism: A rhetorical study of two contemporary works of public art" (1993, Dissertation, Northwestern University) and I wish I had read this before I saw the memorial!
Its amazing to me to know that a few years later I was born. What also amazes me is that it has been 40years since this beautiful memorial meaning Maya Lin is now in her 60's. I cannot wait to go with my husband and see this
Excellent education as always. I was proud to show this to my class of Art Appreciation students. Your use of the word "cut" resonated with them. For many of them, this was their most memorable moment in our class. Since the majority of them are active military, they appreciated the thought and care Maya Lin put into the memorial as well as your comments. You took something that they first saw as "a hole in the ground" and made it meaningful. Thank you.
Thank you for reaching out. It was very moving to hear about your class. Would you be willing to fill out a very short impact survey (our funders have asked us to do this). Here is a link to the Google form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1iK3BzqX1EueqEBCXz-JMfiifEGeAA15IWIZFl4nRG_g/viewform?edit_requested=true Best, Steven
It’s a tribute to those who did what others chose to avoid. As a result, they paid the ultimate sacrifice and that is sad ! I was lucky. 25th infantry division Oct 67-68, 11 B RVN
I believe the statue they added was part of some compromise, but as time has gone by, I feel that the statue is really quite superfluous. I prefer the stark vision of the wall all by itself.
Yes I believe most Vietnam vets like me understood it and really appreciated that an Asian designed it. That in itself to me was a miracle. It’s perfect.
Just have to make the comment as a big geology lover...the monument and the stone is absolutely beautiful. But...it's not made of granite. It's actually something called gabbro, which is commonly referred to as 'black granite' but is not actually granite.
It's a shame how Maya's work was initially condemned and met with scorn ( which seems to happen to many artists) upon initially unveiling her design for the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial. Myself, I found it to be the most moving monument upon my own visit to DC. I'm thrilled that Maya has since garnered the acclaim she deserved. In the end, she had the last laugh. - MORAL: Don't ever let others' criticism discourage you from achieving your dreams.
Perhaps the location should be across the street from the Capital, the V facing the steps and columns. To plant seeds of thought in the congress people?
