Maya Lin Vietnam War Memorial Analysis

SPRINGFIELD — Shirley Flores’ eyes filled with tears Friday as she read the name of her brother on a newly unveiled Vietnam War veteran’s memorial in Springfield.

No war in American history not fought on American soil can claim to have as big an impact on America as a whole than the Vietnam War. The social and political divisions caused by the war changed America as a nation and especially changed those who fought in it. Despite the sacrifices of these veterans, both those who returned and those who did not, Americans on both sides forgot or even vilified those who fought, either as losers or as tokens of an unjust war. To remedy this problem through reconciliation and honor those who died in Vietnam, a group of veterans campaigned to build a national memorial in Washington, D.C. From its original design to the present

The goal was to win the war and to protect the United States, and it was the accomplished with the help of the soldiers. Which cost some lives and to thank those people they opened the Vietnam War memorial. It took a lot of effort and time to make this possible.The wall has a value that we give to the people that served our country. The ones that died and the ones who marched. It tells the truth, gives names and goes on and on. ‘’A Smithsonian Institution director called it “a community of feelings, almost a sacred precinct,” and a veteran declared that “it’s the parade we never got.” “The Wall” drew together both those who fought and those who marched against the war and served to promote national healing a decade after the divisive conflict’s end.’’ ‘’Veterans and families of the dead walked the black reflective wall, seeking the names of their loved ones killed in the conflict.’’ We wouldn’t have won the war if it wasn't for the soldiers everyone who served our country and gave there life for us. They need a symbol that recognized them for what they did. There was also a lot of money raised so this could happen. People take time to admire the names that are written on there with honor. They didn't just give up their lives but also made their family suffer and gave them up for everyone’s protection and also to protect them.. The lose of someone can never be prepared but can be honored and recognized for the importance they have become.

The artist of the memorial, Maya Lin, is an American of Asian descent who is famous for her sculptures and land art. Her most famous work, the Vietnam Memorial, was chosen in a contest, and her designs both mesmerized and angered many people. Since them, works and designs she has created for competitions have been mainly memorials and remembrances based on historical events. Her works are intended to use the natural texture and geology of the space around the monument to its advantage in its creation.

The Vietnam Veteran Memorial, a commemoration of the deceased 58,000 men and women who lost their lives during the Vietnam War. The memorial also has the names of the veterans in chronological order from 1959 to 1975. It is made from granite with a polished surface to reflect the visitors' face that will link visitors to the dead one together.

As I recently traveled to Washington D.C. I visited an extremely empowering memorial - the Vietnam Veterans Wall. I walked along the endless panels and the thousands of names, I realized the impact that this war had on our country and that these names are actual people. They are brothers, fathers, sons, uncles, friends. These individuals left their family, their wives, their children. Some gave their lives, and some gave their sanity, but they all suffered for something much bigger. Many Americans fought in the Vietnam War - some against their will, many as young as 18 years of age. They risked their lives fighting for us, for our country and for a difference. Some soldiers returned home, and sadly, some did not. Many of whom arrived in April,

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 location of a monument is an important factor that should be considered when building the monument. Maya Lin, designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., said that “The two walls were positioned so that one pointed to the Lincoln Memorial and the other pointed to the Washington Monument” (Lin). The two walls essentially link the two symbols for the county to create unity between the past and present (Lin). By specifically

The Korean War Veterans Memorial is a monument that stood out the most to me while visiting Washington D.C with my fellow nursing students. Residing on the National Mall, southeast of the Lincoln Memorial and south of the Reflecting Pool, the Korean War Veterans Memorial was dedicated to the 5.8 million Americans that served and sacrificed in the Korean War. During its relatively short duration from June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953, 36,374 Americans died in battle at the Korean War theater. In addition, 103, 284 were wounded during the conflict. The Korean War is noted as one of the most hard fought battle in our history. The U.S Congress approved the construction of the Korean War Veterans Memorial in 1985. It then broke ground on June 14, 1992 and on July 27,1995, The Korean War Veterans Memorial was dedicated. Cooper-Lecky Architects were responsible for the design of the memorial, as they oversaw collaboration between several designers. The most notable of these designers was Frank Gaylord, who is known for being responsible of the 19 stainless steel statues one can see in the park at any time of day.

The proposed Vietnam Veteran Memorial design is disgraceful. The proposed design is a black wall sunk into a trench. In the article, Insulting Vietnam Vets, By Tom Carhart, he states, “... memorial is anti-heroic - a black hole… universal color of sorrow and dishonor. Hidden in a hole, as if in shame.” The design gives the memorial a dishonorable feel opposed to other memorials rising with victory in white marble, the universal color of purity. Either the material choice of black granite or the choice to have the memorial in the ground need to be revised in order to remove the disgraceful feel.

After creating her visionary Vietnam Veterans Memorial she suffered much controversy and criticism. Many Veterans believed her simple black wall with listed names was a “black wall of shame”(Ergas 265) and insulting to the traditional idea of white marble and statues of soldiers the veterans had expected. Critics even began using her asian background to discriminate against her, which had not been an issue for Lin before this time. Even Ross Pero after finding out she was asian was heard to call her an egg roll. Lin feels if her lineage had been known at the time of the contest she never would have won. This criticism almost caused Lin to exit the world of art forever, if it hadn’t been for the immense impact the wall had on visitors and the sheer number of them. Many visitors found closure and rejoice in finding there loved ones names and leaving flowers. The rubbings of loved ones names even

There is little official data on female Vietnam War veterans, because the military mostly favored recording the achievements of men in the army. The Vietnam Women's Memorial Foundation estimate that approximately 11,000 women were stationed in Vietnam from 1962 to 1973. Only about ten percent of women served as soldiers. The ones who did were normally treated as second class soldiers; their role was perceived only as a helpmate instead of a soldier, and they were often put in dangerous situations prior to having any proper military training. The other ninety percent of women served as military nurses, physicians, air traffic controllers, intelligence officers, and clerks. Some women who weren't in the military served in Vietnam in the Red

Most troops who fought in the war were never the same once they returned home. According to a survey by the Veterans Administration “500,000 of the 3 million troops who served in Vietnam suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, and rates of divorce, suicide, alcoholism and drug addiction were markedly higher among veterans”. The amount of physical and mental consequences after the war for these troops were higher than for ones from a different war. In Washington, DC there is a wall created in honor of all the troops who died or were wounded during the battle. On the wall there are 58,307 names since 2015. The money for the wall came from donations and organizations. The wall cost roughly $4 million. When families of individuals go to the wall in honor of a lost one, they often trace over their name and bring a picture to put on the side. After the Vietnam War the US was divided into two. Those who believe the war should have never happened and those who agreed with the war. Since then no one ever likes to talk about the war. Till this day thousands of families are broken and disappointed at the US about the decision they decided to take on this

In contrast, the second faction that appeared was a group that blamed the policy-makers, for the brutal defeat in the Vietnam War. This cluster was comprised mainly of military people that believed that if the government had taken action early in the war; hence the outcome would have been different. Their view of the Vietnam Memorial is that the memorial is meaningful in the struggle, chaos and death that several troops faced during combat. Even though an infinite amount of individuals opposed the war, it was in the United States best interest to assist an ally fight the battle against communism. Unfortunately, many oppose this view and do not respect what the soldiers did, nevertheless, war in inevitable and even though many soldiers died

Imagine a woman with a Chinese background entering a B+ school project into a countrywide contest for the Vietnam War memorial. Maya Ying Lin, a twenty one year old Yale student entered a school assignment into a contest that anyone in the United States could enter. The purpose of this contest was to create a memorial that recognized the fallen heroes of the Vietnam War. Controversy sparked when people realized that China, the country where Maya’s parents emigrated from, was allied with Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Interestingly, the author Brent Ashabranner chose the title “Always to Remember: The Vision of Maya Ying Lin” to honor the fallen soldiers. Maya Ying Lin designed a memorial and entered it in the contest which gave recognition