EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL
58,318 Americans served in the Vietnam War but wouldn’t survive. Those who did survive found mistrust and mistreatment in the very people they went overseas to serve. Birthed from the intensity of pain, confusion, and more, Army Veteran Jan Scruggs wanted to create something that would show those who served they were appreciated and remembered. Thus began the movement to create the Vietnam Veterans Memorial; however, its creation was far from a straightforward path.
Who Designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial?
While Scruggs started the Vietnam Veterans Memorial initiative, it was Maya Ying Lin who designed it. Inspired after watching The Deer Hunter, Scruggs eventually founded the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. (VVMF) in 1979, which put the framework in place for the project. Together with many other Veterans who served in Vietnam, among other supporters, the group raised $8.4 million from private donors to make the memorial a reality. Congress decided to provide two acres of land in 1980 that were close to the Lincoln Memorial for the project, but now, the VVMF needed to produce a design. To accomplish this, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington held a design competition offering a prize of $20,000 ($75,827.81 in 2024) to the winner. This would spark the interest and creativity of 2,573 individuals and teams who registered and ultimately, 1,421 designs submitted. Entries didn’t have names but rather were by numbers in a hanger at Andrews AFB. It was here that a selection jury went through each of them in multiple elimination rounds before ultimately choosing entry number 1026, the design of 21-year-old Yale University senior Maya Lin. Today, the Constitution Gardens and its iconic black granite walls placed among the dignified, yet haunting trees is a look over 5 million people visit in awe each year. On November 13, 1982, the minimalist approach was officially opened and today, it’s the most frequently visited part of the National Mall.
How Many Names Are on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial?
Originally, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall names totaled 57,939; however, 379 additional names have been added since, as of 2017. The names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall are written chronologically in the order the Vet became a casualty. Both black granite walls often have items left by loved ones who pay respect to those who have passed. These items are collected by staff and can be viewed online.
Finding Names
If you’re looking for a specific name, visitors have resources available. Here’s how to do it:
- You can find the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Directory of Names at either end of the wall which are in alphabetical order.
- You will see a panel and line number where “W” means the west wall (on the left when looking at the vertex), and “E” indicates the wall to the east (on the right while looking at the vertex).
- Each panel has numbers at the bottom that start from the center and move to the end of the walls. You can find the line that matches where the name is by counting down from the top. You’ll notice dots every 10 lines to help with counting.
If you’d like, names are also available online through the VVMF’s Wall of Faces.
Plan Your Trip to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
The memorial is a part of the National Park Service found at 5 Henry Bacon Dr. NW, Washington, DC 20002. It’s free, and open 24 hours a day, although, workers are only available through 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST. Visitors can enjoy the iconic memorial, along with newer additions, such as the Vietnam Women's Memorial, the “In Memory” plaque, and of course, there are plenty of other attractions throughout the National Mall. Keep in mind that when you visit, the monument is a place of reverence and remembrance for the heroes who died serving our nation. You’ll want to be respectful of those who have passed as well as those who are there while visiting. A trip to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is something any American should do at least once. It’s the perfect place to pay respect and to put into perspective the sacrifice necessary for our country’s freedom. Suggested reads: