'Tribute To Vietnam Dead: Words, A Wall'

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.

The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, was one of the longest wars with US combat force participation. It lasted from November 1, 1955, to April 30, 1975. The war was between North Vietnam and South Vietnam, with the U.S. as its ally. Three million people were killed in the war, 58,000 of them being American. One reason we should memorialize this event is because we should educate the future generations about what this war was about and why it happened so that they can know what happened in their past. We also do not want this event to be forgotten, so we create museums and memorials to keep the memory of these soldiers alive. Many people had discussions about if this war should have even happened or not. The Vietnam War was controversial because since it was a civil war, many people thought that the U.S. didn’t have any part in it and shouldn’t be involved in their countries’ problems. We should create a memorial for the Vietnam War because of the how many people lost their lives and also how much controversy arose because of this war.

Art has always been used to voice emotions or stories in a way that can easily be understood. Conquering nations used art to immortalize their leaders, warriors and conquests. Similarly, conquered nations used art to keep their cultures alive. This pattern of dueling voices, those in power versus the oppressed, is shown throughout American art. From slavery and the Civil War to World War II to the modern day, art has been there to stand up to oppressors and keep faith alive for the oppressed. No era better shows a revolution against oppression and cruelty through art than the Harlem Renaissance of the early 1920s.

The Vietnam War was gruesome and it was terrible for the United States. A little after the war ended, there was a contest for the Vietnam memorial in Washington, D.C. Maya Lin was chosen as the designer of the memorial, but John Carhart has some problems with her design. After reading Carhart’s article, he does make some good points about the memorial, but others are not quite right.

Art in general is a form of expression. Individuals use art to express emotions, passion, or make a statement. Society can have an impact on how an artist chooses to express his or her sentiments. The beauty of it all is that interpretation is what makes art so unique. The same piece of art can mean so many different things due to who is looking at it. Just like everything else, art changes with time. There has been different eras in art that have impacted society as we know it.

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.

In Mary McLeod's essay, “The Battle for the Monument: The Vietnam Veterans Memorial”, McLeod establishes the importance of participation both during the competition and after being completed because it ultimately defined the design and function of Maya Lin's design. Right from the start, the VVM competition encouraged participation from the public. For example, the competition itself was open to anyone despite their level of experience. This led to a resounding success in terms of the number of entrants.

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.

One reason for this is that on the wall is that it has the names of over 58,000 soldiers that gave their lives to help others. Of all the walls names there are about 1300 who are still considered Missing In Action (MIA) but officially classified as "Died, body not recovered"(Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall). Every day veteran go to the Vietnam Wall Memorial and remember their fallen comrades who gave their lives so that others may live. The Vietnam Memorial also helps America remember a time in our history that was so bad and bloody that We built a memorial to never let a war like the Vietnam War happen again. But the biggest reason the memorial is so emotionally impactful is that it not only honors the fallen, but also the families who lost a loved one in the war. “VVMF (The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Fund) wanted Vietnam veterans to have a tangible symbol of recognition from the American people. By separating the issue of the service of the individual men and women from the issue of U.S. policy in Vietnam, VVMF hoped to begin a process of national reconciliation” (About The Wall). In the end one of the most impactful aspects of The Vietnam War Memorial is the emotional

The remembrances of the Vietnam War are often thought upon with mixed emoptions. While there are those who praise the “bravest of men in our country” (Keith 38), some are stirred by the memorial, which happens to also be the most frequently toured site in the capital of the united states. It is covered with the names of over 50,000 men and women who served and died in the war of vietnam, it is regarded as a “shrine to the dead” (Taylor 24)  reminder of the loss of too many young Americans, and of what the war did to the United States and its messianic belief in its own overweening virtue.

This heartwarming story is about a young boy and his father who visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. they’re looking for his father’s name on the giant wall of names. While looking for his grandfather’s name, the young boy witnesses a soldiers who lost both of his legs, and is confined to a wheelchair, an older couple who are embracing each other crying, and a flower that id drooping. His father seems saddened, as well as the others who are visiting the memorial. The young boy is sad because he doesn’t have a grandfather, but his father tells him that he couldn’t be more proud to see his name on that wall because he died fighting for our

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

The Vietnam War was a period painted by immense bias. Specifically in America, the war raised not only the problem of whether or not it was moral, but the question of how informed citizens were of the actions of their country. Art of all forms became a gateway for Americans to not only learn about what was happening overseas in the war, but also became a tool for them to express their own opinions toward the war. Musicians, photographers, and artists alike all altered their preferred subject matter and set their focus on Vietnam. Beyond being a tool for understanding, art was a vessel for individuals to argue their bias toward the war.

Making A Memory Of War: Building The Vietnam Veterans Memorial by Kristin Hass illustrates the carefully constructed nature of national memory and how this construction is a politically and socially contested process. This contestation is evident in the struggles that memorial faced at every step of its creation beginning with the lack of attention that it received, which made funding the memorial difficult. This was partially due to the unpopularity of the war and partially due to the lack of social clout that members of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) led them to rely on politicians and other celebrities. Even with proper funding, because the Vietnam War was so unpopular, the memorial had to be for the servicemen, not

There are many ways to remember and honor the fallen and brave servicemen for all to see, such as outdoor artwork. The Maya Lin’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial and The Three Soldiers are two of the masterpieces that are located at Washington D.C. Though both made by different authors, they are connected to the Vietnam war and have a strong impact of remembering the war.