Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Black granite names
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a national monument in Washington, D.C., honoring U.S. service members who died or went missing in the Vietnam War.
Its centerpiece is a black granite wall inscribed with over 58,000 names, designed by Maya Lin and dedicated in 1982.
Visitors often leave mementos or make rubbings of names: We found my uncle's name on the Wall.
Offering of respect
- honoringRecognizing with respect
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- serviceAid or maintenance
- fallenHaving dropped down
respect · ceremony · legacy · reverence · dedication · wreath · flags · offerings
Restoration of friendly relations
- closureSense of emotional resolution
- solaceRelief from distress
- catharsisPurification through emotional expression
- comfortEase or soothing relief
grieving · processing · acceptance · pilgrimage · homecoming · forgiveness · peace · restoration
Opposition between parties
- Southeast AsiaTropical peninsula and islands
- draftPreliminary version of text
- casualtiesThose killed or wounded
- MIAUnaccounted for, briefly
POW · Agent Orange · Tet Offensive · Saigon · Ho Chi Minh · guerrilla · jungle · helicopter
Igneous rock, quartz-rich
- namesPersonal identifying words
- reflectionReturned light or thought
- blackDarkest possible hue
- V-shapeAngle like letter V
polished · sunken · chronological · panels · slope · pathway · touching · etched
Text permanently marked
- etchingAcid-incised metal print
- engravingCarving into hard surfaces
- letteringStyled written characters
- chronologicalOrdered by time
casualties · fallen · additions · rubbing · tracing · pencil · paper · touching
Evoking gentle emotion
- rubbingApplying pressure while moving
- offeringsThings presented or given
- mementosObjects kept for remembrance
- pilgrimageReligious journey to shrine
tourists · volunteers · directory · locating · photographs · letters · flowers · flags
tribute
Offering of respect
fallen · respect · ceremony · legacy · reverence · dedication · wreath · flags · offerings · vigil
reconciliation
Restoration of friendly relations
- closureSense of emotional resolution
- solaceRelief from distress
- catharsisPurification through emotional expression
comfort · grieving · processing · acceptance · pilgrimage · homecoming · forgiveness · peace · restoration · PTSD
conflict
Opposition between parties
- Southeast AsiaTropical peninsula and islands
- draftPreliminary version of text
- casualtiesThose killed or wounded
MIA · POW · Agent Orange · Tet Offensive · Saigon · Ho Chi Minh · guerrilla · jungle · helicopter · service
granite
Igneous rock, quartz-rich
- namesPersonal identifying words
- reflectionReturned light or thought
- blackDarkest possible hue
V-shape · polished · sunken · chronological · panels · slope · pathway · touching · etched · gash
inscription
Text permanently marked
- etchingAcid-incised metal print
- engravingCarving into hard surfaces
- letteringStyled written characters
chronological · casualties · fallen · additions · rubbing · tracing · pencil · paper · touching · finding
touching
Evoking gentle emotion
- rubbingApplying pressure while moving
- offeringsThings presented or given
- mementosObjects kept for remembrance
pilgrimage · tourists · volunteers · directory · locating · photographs · letters · flowers · flags · medals
- DC LandmarksWhite House, Capitol, Washington Monument, National Mall, Capitol Building
- memorialsgravestone, monument, headstone, commemorations, grave markers
- monumentsWashington Monument, Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, Arc de Triomphe, obelisk
- National MallWashington Monument, Smithsonian, Capitol Building, National Gallery, Natural History Museum
- war memorialswar monuments, military cemeteries, cenotaph, war graves, tomb of the unknown soldier
- American LandmarksStatue of Liberty, Washington Monument, Mount Rushmore, Golden Gate Bridge, Grand Canyon
Vietnam Veterans MemorialArc de Triomphe
Monumental arch in Paris
triumphal arch · Brandenburg Gate · victory parade · ticker-tape parade · triumphal procession
Vietnam Veterans MemorialWashington Monument
Commemorative stone tower, D.C.
Nelson's Column · Lincoln Memorial · Statue of Liberty · Jefferson Memorial · Eiffel Tower
Vietnam, veteran, veterans, memorial, memorials, memorialize, memorialized, memorializing, memoriam