Memorials are important to honor the dead as well as to remind us, the living. We have talked about the lack of a World War I Memorial, the World War II Memorial, a little about various Holocaust Memorials, and now it is time to look at my favorite memorial, the Vietnam Wall Memorial in Washington, D.C. I have linked a site to this below. Go to this site, read about the Wall and how it came about, the designer, and look at the pictures. Then I want you to comment on your feelings about this memorial. What makes it a powerful memorial? If you don't like it (and many DO NOT), what do you feel is not appealing about it? What are your feelings about this memorial compared to others?
The Wall
Lit Terms 2
6 years ago
26 comments:
Good Morning:
I am David DeJonge and I am the President of the World War One Memorial Foundation. We are based in DC and are fighting for WWI Memorial. Along with Mr. Buckles who is Americas Last WWI veteran we would like to ask for your help.
If you are interested please contact me. Thanks for the note on your blog.
David DeJonge
www.dejongestudio.com
I think it was a great idea to dedicate a memorial for the soldiers who fought in Vietnam. It said that there are 58,260 names listen on the entire wall which is devastating. I couldn't imagine that many casualties happening to people who are trying to do the right thing. Compared to other memorials, I think this one stands out because of how many names are listed.
Ben Kimball
I think the wall is absolutely amazing. I don't see how anyone could not like it. It honors all those who fought in the war and it reminds us of the many people who gave their lives fighting. The wall is very well structured and has unique features to it. I love how the names are set up chronologically and alphabetically. I've been to the wall before and it's not the only thing on that site that interested me, there were statues of soldiers in the courtyard with templates below telling about the war. The wall is extremely long and i feel that each name on it is worthy of honor.
-Esha Rock
I really like this memorial. One thing that makes so powerful is actually seeing all of the names of those who died. Sometimes we can't really picture or imagine the number of people who died. This wall lists all of those names so that you can see just how many people did die. I like how it is in a quiet, peaceful spot. It sort of represents those soldiers resting in peace. I also thought it was cool how they had a contest to see what the design of the memorial would be.
Gabby Earby
I like the memorial. When I went there in May of 2007, I looked as far as the eye could see and there were nothing but names on the wall. The names weren't just names, they were heroes. They were the American soldiers who went abroad to die for their country. As for the lack of a WWI memorial, I can understand. For one, the US didn't get involved in WWI until the very last year of fighting, and two, WWI shouldn't have happened in the first place. If it weren't for WWI, Hitler wouldn't have been the fascist leader of Germany and WWII wouldn't have happened. I'm not saying there shouldn't be a WWI memorial, but I can understand why there isn't.
Jake Hartline
I personally think the memorial is a great idea! Anyone who put their life on the line in any way should be honored in my opinion. I'm pretty sure we saw this wall when we visited D.C. in the 8th grade. It's especially moving to see at night when they lights hit it. :) I liked the whole "park within a park" design that the winning architect had. That sounds neat. I do think maybe some civilian names could have been added as well, but other than that, I think it's a fantastic memorial.
-Payton Tipton
I remember seeing this memorial when I went to Washington D.C. The wall went on forever, and to see all of the names was definitely a little disturbing. I think it's moving to see a wall with that many names on it, and plug in the fact that that many people died in the war. I have a lot of respect for those men and they definitely deserve an amazing memorial like the one they have.
Hayley Brewster
The Vietnam Memorial is one of my favorites. I went there on the D.C. trip during 8th grade. It was amazing to go there and see what all is on it.
Will Hearn
I went to the wall with my 8th grade class and it was amazing how many names were on it. I shed a few tears seeing everyone else around placing flowers and other gifts along the wall. Walking and seeing it in the dark also had a different effect..the lights shining from below, onto the huge marble wall. It just made me think. I really love that the Vietnam wall was made. :)
Brooke Miller
i have seen the wall and it was horrible to look at for me. It was just thousand of names. Name after name of dead people who fought hard in a war, and no one appreciates them. They got spit on and yelled at. I think the wall is a wonderful thing, though. I know i contradicted myself but it is true. As hard as it is to look at, it shows the names of those people that need to be respected for what they went through for others. I think that a memorial for WWI would be amazing. It would help others see that even though the war is underrated by a lot of people.
I think that it is a great tribute because the veterans of this war did not get any recognition when they came home, and I think that the wall was a great way to honor them.
Adam Spivey
The Vietnam War Memorial is a great memorial because it honors every single death of americans in the war. It doesnt just have a statue and say thanks to everyone who died for the country. It has every name on it and I think that that is something special. I think what makes it such a powerful memorial is that it has every single name and if you just take a step back and look at how massive the wall is and how little the names are, it just hits you that this whole entire wall is covered by these tiny names.
-Ted Lackey
I remembered visiting the place and looking at the wall and statues. It just broke my heart knowing that that many people died. We walked along the wall and I remembered thinking how much longer because it seemed like the wall went forever like the Great Wall of China. We went to see it at night and I liked how they had lights shining up on the names. I liked this becuase it is kinda like putting the spot light on them and honoring them. I really like the vietnam wall. Another situation that makes me so mad is the WW1 memorial situation. I believe that there should be a WW1 memorial. Yes Jake made good points on why there really isn't one. But still, men and women died for us! They should be honored no matter what! WW1 was one of the biggest wars we had. Even though the U.S. didn't come in when it started, we still lost lives of many people. Jake said that WW1 shouldn't have happened, well it did. We can't change the outcome of it. All I am saying is that for every war even if the U.S. comes in late or it wasn't suppose to happen, we should still have a memorial (a nice one instead of that old piece of junk right now for the WW1 memorial) for every war because men and women put their lives in danger to keep us, families, and this country safe and so we can still have our freedom. So if people die for us, why don't we have a memorial for them? Give me 5 good reasons why not to.
Katelyn McChesney
If you don't agree or don't like the wall, then you are either from Vietnam or your mom dropped you on your head as a baby. I find that so rude. The people on that wall fought and died for their country. I don't see any of the people wining about it out doing that. On a lighter note, I think that the wall is one of the best memorials in Washington and I pray that the families of the people on the wall have good lives.
I agree with Ben. The idea of having almost 60000 names put on a wall for remembrance is awesome. It's awful that that many people died and made than wall, and I'm sure there's several people who were just lost in the war. So I definitely agree with this memorial, and all war memorials. so the WWI soldiers definitely deserve one.
Colton Ward
I found it a great idea to have the wall to dedicate to the soldiers who lossed their lives fighting to save us. I think this one stands above the rest because so many people lossed their lives so it is one of the biggest memorials we have.
Meryn Evans
Unlike most of the people in the class, I didn't get to go to see the wall in 8th grade. I would love to actually see it, seeing as I think the Vietnam war is one of the more interesting wars.
I think that having proper respect for veterans of any war is extremely important. Looking at the pictures of the memorial, I see it's just a list of names of people who died in that horrible war. And to think it all accumulated in nothing, we didn't gain anything in that war but a loss. It is surely a right and proper thing that they were honored in a memorial.
I think the wall is amazing too. I don't think it was fair to the soldiers when they came home from the war and no one celebrated like you said in class. I think they deserve to be paised and rewarded for what they did, even though some didn't choose to go into the war. I really liked what Gabby said about the wall representing the soldiers resting place. I think that is very true.
I love the look, the impact, and the entire idea of the VVM wall. It looks amazing and it a great impact on everyone that walks by. When i was in DC, it was impossible to simply walk by this memorial. Its incredibly sad to think of how long they had to make the wall to fit everyone's name, though. I think the overall simplicity of it, makes it extremely powerful. In actuality, it is just a huge slab of stone with names engraved, but if it would have been anything different, it would have taken away from its purpose. Its purpose is to remember the people who gave up their lives for this country, so they names engraved on this simple slab of stone, stick out and make everyone thankful for them. On that simple slab of stone, there are names of the heroes of our past, that created our future.
-Brooke Muller
The wall itself is very sad to look at for me. Just like Hannah said, it makes me feel sad about how many people lost their lives. Some or most didn't even want to be in the war and they died for a cause they didn't believe in.
-Ariana Dorr
i actually went to washington d.c this summer and i got to see this memorial. It was so interesting to view it. At first, all i saw was these stone statues and i was just wondering "what is that?" it didn't even resemble a human. The soldiers are all loaded down with all the stuff they carried. I read the first chapter of The Things They Carried, and that chapter was a very vivid description of what i saw at the memorial. This memorial is beautiful. Simply amazing. I was really amazed at how they put the names and the pictures on the wall. The most amazing part yet was that you could see yourself in the wall. This memorial was not my favorite, but it made the top of my list. The sad part was, and this is in agreement with almost everyone that posted, was that there were so Many names. It really is devestating to look at. But it really is a beautiful memorial. Especially because it is surounded by the garden.
i think there can be both sides to the memorial of vietnam i think that there always should be something there to represent the soldiers who gave there life to help others in need and to save our country but also i think that some people may disagree with this memorial because it wasn't something that shouldv'e been event thought of in the first place. what im trying to say is that alot of people believe that it wasn't something america shouldv'e been invold in but at the same time we were anyway so we should honor those soldiers who served.
Dustin Shelton
I remember how shocked I was when I visited the Vietnam Veteran Memorial in D.C. I was with all of my friends and a lot of them were excited that we had finally arrived (it was a REALLY long bus ride) so they were too distracted see the wall the way that I did. When I looked at the memorial I saw thousands of sacrificed lives. I saw moms, dads, brothers, sisters, husbands, grandfathers, friends, all who gave thier lives for our country. I don't care if people think we weren't there for a reason. Reason or no reason they lost their lives while representing our country and for that they deserve much more than to be spit upon. I think the memorial is beautiful and touching.
Emily Hill
I think the memorial is a nice place. I love the idea of a park inside a park. But the list of the names is very sad to just see all of those names its just crazy but its a great idea because when you hear a number it doesn't really get to you but to see them listed like that it really makes a difference.
I'm surprised to see how many others in the class were also on thte eighth grade trip, but. I personally am greatly fond of the design of the memorial, perhaps [visually] because of the material it was made from and the effects achieved from molding it and also [mentally] because of its elegant simplicity. A memorial does not need to be lavishly decorated in extravagance to have an impact; and I find the modest appeal very striking. The fact that it draws out the list of those who died [or went missing] while fighting for this country, to put a number and a name next to the faceless mass of contributors, to me means it has served its purpose—especially if it manages to convey the deeper emotions and sentiments surrounding the topic. I still have not forgotten the heavy impact of black mirror-esque walls, reflecting the thousands of names of brave soldiers engraved in the glitter of spotlights.
Priscilla Han
It is always a good idea to honor the dead. I also went on the D.C. trip in eighth grade and saw the memorial. The amount of names on the wall was huge, and I cannot imagine just letting them be forgotten.
Kent Connell
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