Chapter 23: The Vietnam War "Vietnam Veterans Memorials"

Introduction In this chapter, you learned about the high price of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War—more than 58,000 Americans died and another 300,000 were wounded. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., designed by architecture student Maya Ying Lin, honors all veterans of the Vietnam War. Known as the "Wall," the chevron-shaped monument has two 250-foot walls of polished black granite, and engraved upon the mirror-like surface are the names of the men and women who were killed or listed as missing in action during the war. States and individuals have also created memorials to honor the veterans of the Vietnam War. Visit this site to explore some of the many tributes to veterans of the Vietnam War. Destination Title: Vietnam Veterans Memorials Around The World Note: Clicking on the link above will launch a new browser window. Need help using your browser for this activity? Click here for tips. Directions Start at the Vietnam Veterans Memorials Around The World Web site. Scroll down and visit the Vietnam veterans' memorial sites in the following cities or areas: Washington, D.C.; Pensacola, Florida; Frankfort, Kentucky; Monroe County, Michigan; and Holmdel, New Jersey. If time permits, visit some of the other states' sites as well. Browse through the sites, taking notes as you go. After you have read through the information, answer the following questions. 1. How do the Vietnam memorials differ from traditional monuments honoring war veterans? 2. In what ways do the memorials distinguish those veterans who were missing in action or prisoners of war? 3. Describe some of the ways that the memorials affect their visitors. 4. In the site for the wall in Washington, D.C., read the essay "Edges of the Wall" by Tim Trask. What are the dates listed at the beginning and end of the Washington, D.C., wall? Why are these dates different from the official starting and ending dates of the Vietnam War? 5. Using any medium or form, design your own Vietnam veterans' memorial. Your memorial should comply with the same rules that governed the design of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.—it must be reflective and contemplative, and it must make no political statement about the War.