The 57,307 names etched on the black granite of the Vietnam memorial located in Constitution Gardens in Washington,D.C. are the obvious reminder of war and sacrifice made for freedom. The memorial was at first, controversial, because its design was not the norm but neither was that war.
To walk down the path, your eyes are drawn to the wall, reading each name, honoring their service. Many are compelled to touch the wall and make rubbings of loved ones names. Some leave flowers or other symbols as remembrances.
Described by the wall’s designer, Maya Lin, as “the wound that is healing”, the Vietnam Memorial transformed the way we honor the fallen. Seeing each name is an obvious reminder of the extreme price of conflict.
My Second Act, Scene One 