Vietnam Veterans Memorial, War memorial in Constitution Gardens, Washington, D.C., United States
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a war memorial in Constitution Gardens in Washington, D.C., built into a grassy slope facing the Lincoln Memorial. The main structure consists of two black granite walls stretching 246 feet (75 meters) that display more than 58,000 names of military personnel who died during service.
The memorial opened in November 1982 after a national design competition with 1,421 submissions and was designed by Yale University student Maya Lin, who was 21 at the time. Controversy over the unconventional design later led to the addition of a traditional bronze statue of three soldiers near the main structure.
The reflective surface shows visitors their own image alongside the engraved names, creating a direct connection between present and past. People often leave flowers, letters, or personal items at the wall to honor fallen relatives or comrades.
The memorial is accessible around the clock and National Park Service rangers are available from 9:30 AM to 10 PM to assist visitors. The walkway location suits wheelchair users and sits near other memorials on the National Mall, allowing easy walking access to multiple sites.
The earliest name, for a death on July 8, 1959, sits at the apex on panel 1E, and the list runs day by day to panel 70E, resumes at 70W and returns to the apex at 1W in 1975. A diamond marks confirmed dead, a cross the missing; a diamond is cut over a cross when remains are identified.
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