Vietnam War Memorial Research Paper

These memorials are in memory of the fallen soldiers and sometimes the soldiers that made it out alive.

The Vietnam Memorial is a very effective memorial. The main goal of Maya Lin for choosing this design is for everyone that goes there is to resolve and come to terms with their losses. It is a quiet place meant for personal reflection and private reckoning (Source D). This is why she chose the simple, clean design of it being black with white letters. Black can be considered a very depressing color, so it adds to the effect and the feeling that this memorial should give someone. The thing that makes it very special is that it honors the dead instead of the living. This memorial has every single name of a fallen soldier that fought in the Vietnam War. Also, the design is good because it is different from all the other memorials in D.C. Every other memorial recognizes the great

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall is made of Black Granite. The design of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was a contest. Within the contest different U.S citizen submitted design ideas for the memorial and 8 different artists judges the entries in order to pick the best one. The wall was created by Maya Ying Lin. The wall is not extremely tall but rather is longer than most normal monuments. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall invites those visiting it to come closer and in contact with it. This is due to the fact that the print on the wall is small and visitors can also do a rubbing or tracing of the different names on the wall. The Vietnam Memorial Wall was an intentional monument since it was planned out and designed with a purpose of commemorating

Vietnam was one of the bloodiest wars in American History. It resulted in the deaths of approximately 58,000 U.S. Servicemen. The Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. is a totem to these fallen warriors. In, 1985 Peter Marlow photographed this memorial in his piece titled Washington, D.C. 1985. Vietnam Vet holds an American flag to the Vietnam Memorial. Marlow's photograph addresses the sacrifice of America in Vietnam and the pain left behind by those lost. Marlow shows an anonymous Soldier bowing his head and pressing an American Flag to the Memorial. This photograph is emotional and powerful, stating bluntly just how great of a price America paid in Vietnam. Marlow's use of lines and shapes, conveys to all Americans the oblation of America's sacrifice in the War of Vietnam.

Standing next to the Vietnam Wall was breathtaking. You take a step back and you can almost envision the lives lost, and that’s what I wanted.

In order for a monument to get a greater value of importance the placement of the monument is crucial. The placement of a monument is not only important because of how populated a place is but also the relation between the place and the monument. Even the smallest consideration to detail can make a difference in the awe a monument inspires. For example, Source G states “The vietnam veterans

5) The main problem is there is lack of American Symbols like flag, red& white colors, and flowers. The memorial only focuses on people who died but I think this should be the purpose of a memorial not patriotism or nationalistic ideas. (Check: http://www.usvetdsp.com/maya_lin_wall.htm)

The next pieces of art were made with commemorative intentions, so that we not only fail to forget our history for better or for worst, but also to give thanks to those who have sacrificed themselves in the name of what they were fighting for. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial constructed in 1980-1982 and made out of Black granite, was designed by a student name Maya Lin. This controversial wall Bears the names of 60,000 American servicemen and women who died or are missing from the time of the war. These names were cleverly engraved down chronological order by year of death/missing. The memorial has influenced many other public memorials, despite the fact many were against it in the beginning. Death of General Wolfe by Benjamin West depicts the military battle of 1759 in which the British Army defeated the French in a struggle for control of the Canadian portion of North America. The general, James Wolfe died on the battlefield just as his troop’s secured victory. His death represented the idea of patriotic self-sacrifice. This painting was also a controversial piece because of the wardrobe choice the artist decided to depict the “heroes” in. What really strikes me those most in this painting is the background. There is a billowing of smoke that seems to encompass almost half of the canvas, however the light from the midday sun looks as if it is starting to shine through. This could represent the victory of the battle or the Gods coming to lay General Wolfe to rest. You can also see that all the men surrounding General Wolfe are turned his way or even blatantly pointing. This draws the viewer to Wolfe’s fallen form even despite the fact that there is so much more surrounding him. Leutze’s Washington Crossing the Delaware honors George Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River in 1776 during the American Revolutionary War. This act was the first move in a surprise attack against the Hessian forces

As time passed veterans gained the respect they deserved after fighting in the war. Veterans from the Vietnam war come to see the names of the people they fought alongside, students to respect the people who died for the country, and families to mourn the loss of their loved ones. The memorial was made to represent the people who sacrificed their lives trying to protect our nation. Countless veterans were treated with disrespect and disgust for all the trauma they had suffered, but now are treated how they should

On May 1, 1981 a jury declared Maya Ying Lin of Athens, Ohio as the winning memorial design. The memorial’s walls point to the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial. 58,267 names are inscribed in chronological order of the date of casualty. I believe this depicts the war as a series of human sacrifices and therefore they shall receive a special place in history. Each name is preceded on the west wall or on the east wall by one of two symbols: a diamond or a cross. The diamond denotes that the individual has been declared deceased. The 780 persons whose names are designated by a cross were either missing or prisoners at the end of the war and remains missing and unaccounted for. If a person returns alive, a circle, as a symbol of life, is inscribed over the cross. In the event an individual’s remains are returned or are otherwise accounted for, the diamond is superimposed over the cross. Knowing this, I remain hopeful that some soldiers will return home alive. Walking beside the wall and seeing the names inscribed allowed me to feel great pride in my country as these soldiers gave up their life fighting for the people of America. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial will properly commemorate each soldier for the rest of

Of course, the memorial is that important! The World War II Memorial is important because it was built to honor the 16 million people who served in the war. Then after the war was over, the country was safe all thanks to who served.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is in D.C., and hundreds of people visit it each day. It stands as a symbol of what Americans did in the Vietnam War, and how many we actually helped. The Vietnam War was a brutal war were many of the soldiers were wounded or killed, and those who died fighting for our country will always be remembered because of the Vietnam Veterans War memorial. The Vietnam Veterans War memorial is a lasting tribute to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives while fighting in the Vietnam War.

"It is a V formed by two black granite walls that diminish in height as they extend outward, making the monument appear to descend into the earth. Chiseled into the walls are the names of the 57,930 men and 9 women who died or are listed as missing in the Vietnam War" (Foss). The creation itself, was symbolic for the argument presented by a faction during the late 1960's and 1980's arguing against the motifs that the U.S. had to engage in the Vietnam War. For a majority, involvement in the Vietnam War represented tyranny, because we had no right to fight a battle that pertains to South Vietnam. Second, if South Vietnam wanted to remain a democratic nation, then they should have fought directly against communism, instead of depending on U.S

America has made an obsession out of remembering past events by making monuments, like the Lincoln Monument. These type monuments can be used to teach anyone what their country has been through. This is a method that has been in use since long before America was founded, but America is not immune to the influence of Memorials. America uses memorials to commemorate fallen soldiers, influential leaders, founders of peace, and some of the nations most devastating moments, like 9-11. Some of the most important, and well known memorials in the world can be found in America, such as the Washington monument, Lincoln monument and many others.

But I never go to why they are important so let me tell you. To me memorials are important because