by Priscilla (wishing I was in Costa Rica) ~.
Member since:
January 10, 2006

Washington D.C. - The Vietnam War Memorial

November 15, 2008 10:25 AM EST
views: 96 | rating: 9.1/10 (21 votes) | comments: 26

After we saw the Lincoln Memorial, we walked over to the Vietnam War memorial.

No one is our group knew anyone that had fought in the war, so I picked a guy in our group & looked up his last name. Found 4, 2 from his home state, so we noted the location of the name & went to find it. He thought it was neat & was interested in talking to his Dad when he got home, to see if they were related to the name we found.

Here are the pictures I took there.

a view along one of the length's of the memorial. It was much larger than I expected.

I'm not sure what the 1975 means - do you?

Some of the names.

So many names.......too many

Me, reflected in the wall. I love how it is so reflective. It is menat for you to reflect on what you are seeing - to hopefully understand & maybe even to see yourself as one of those names.

We did see a man taking a rubbing of a name, but I didn't feel right about taking a picture of such a personal event.

Have you ever had the honor of visiting this memorial?
link to this page
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Comments: 26

Denise B. Nov 15, 2008, 10:37am EST
this is wonderful I would love to visit there someday
jessie voigts Nov 15, 2008, 10:49am EST
i was there, and stunned. it is so beautiful, and sad. i did find someone my dad had known. thanks for sharing!
Kim M. Nov 15, 2008, 10:54am EST
I've nver been there but would like to eventually. One of these days I'll get back to DC.
Steph-in-NE ..... Nov 15, 2008, 10:55am EST
I have seent the replica that travel usa it is very serine to see,,
April H. Nov 15, 2008, 10:57am EST
YEs, it is very moving to look upon this memorial, my husband still wears the metal braclet of Caspt jOHN wEST WHO IS ON THE WALL
Ashley B. Nov 15, 2008, 11:07am EST
1975 is when the Vietnam War ended.
Kathryn E. Nov 15, 2008, 12:05pm EST
I saw this first in 1983 when I was moving to DC to work. My then fiancee and I stopped by to look for my friend, Michael Donald Hughes, who is on this wall. During my three months in DC., I stopped by many times to see Michael's name.
Priscilla (wishing I was in Costa Rica) ~. Nov 15, 2008, 12:23pm EST
Thank you Ashley.
edna r. Nov 15, 2008, 1:35pm EST
I have not seen it, but I would like to someday.
Aubrey :) Nov 15, 2008, 1:50pm EST
That is so moving and it makes my heart sad. What a experience. I would love to see that.
Chris E. Nov 15, 2008, 2:21pm EST
Ashley that is not actually what the date represents as you will see it is not the only date on the wall. 1959 is also inscribed on the wall and they each have a significance.

1975 was the year that the last 18 casualties occurred on May 15th during the recapture of the freighter MAYAGUEZ and its crew. 1959 marks the date of the first casualty who were military advisors. although the first real casualty actually died in 1957 in a training accident.

The VVM is my favorite monument. I visit it several times a year.
Chris E. Nov 15, 2008, 2:22pm EST
Kim - Come visit me and will give you the guided tour. I owe you anyways.
Janet "Jax" B. Nov 15, 2008, 2:34pm EST
I've never been there either....some day I hope to get up to Washington DC....great job Priscilla.
Chris E. Nov 15, 2008, 2:36pm EST
Oh and by the way the war actually ended for the U.S. in 1973. Although the war continued until the fall of Saigon in 1975. March 29, 1973 was the day the the last remaining American troops withdrew.(The last soldier to leave Vietnam lived in the same city as I lived and was killed in the pentagon on 9/11.
Vic Needs Coffee Nov 15, 2008, 2:42pm EST
I would like to visit one day.
Amy H. Nov 15, 2008, 3:34pm EST
nice photos thanks
JoAnn C. Nov 15, 2008, 5:50pm EST
I have seen the Vietnam Memorial. It is quite amazing to see.
Thank you Chris for that information!
Nancy S. Nov 15, 2008, 6:27pm EST
My daughter and I spent a long time there. Very awe inspiring. We bought MIA bracelets at the veterans booths and I bought a bumper sticker that said My Son is in the Air Force.
Lindali B Nov 15, 2008, 7:24pm EST
I visited the memorial very early on a summer morning in 1994. There were only a few people and it was a deeply personal experience. I walked the length of it with tears running down my face. It was the first time I had been in Washington since May of 1970 and then I had been protesting the war, protesting the deaths of so many soldiers. I honor all of those who served, who are still serving. I mourn all of those who died. I want to think that the protests, all of us marching in the streets of America, kept more names from being on that wall.
Marianne R. Nov 15, 2008, 9:31pm EST
Nice photos of a wonderful memorial.
Fantastic photos, Priscilla. I saw the moving version of this wall over the summer, and was struck by how moving it really could be (pun not intended!).
vickey w Nov 16, 2008, 7:25pm EST
I have seen this and it is very moving... I get tears in my eyes when I go there... There is a moving wall that tours around the country every so often but its been awhile since I have heard about it...There are lots of people who take a pencil and paper and rub the name of a loved one...I dont think this is meant to be disrespectful...
Heather ~of the Whippets~ M. Nov 16, 2008, 9:03pm EST
Even though I've been to D.C. a number of times, I've never been to the Vietnam War Memorial.
Victoria H. Jan 13, 2009, 8:54pm EST
Thanks so much for posting this to my group All Photo Essays Here !!

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