Dedicated in 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was a revolutionary minimalist design for a war memorial. From afar, the memorial appears as a gash on the landscape, an unhealed wound. The names of over 58,000 servicemembers who gave their lives between 1957 and 1975 are listed on the wall in chronological order starting and ending at the center of the wall. Guidebooks at the entrances to the memorial can help visitors find a specific name, corresponding to the panel number
These directories help locate names on the wall. The directories are organized alphabetically by last name. Each entry includes a panel number and letter; "W" is for "west" or the left half of the memorial, "E" is for east, or the right half of the memorial. The numbers on the wall ascend from the center out toward the left and right extremes. Look at the bottom of each panel on the wall for its number.
When the kiosk is staffed, volunteers or NPS personnel are available at the window to answer questions and provide assistance. This help may include providing paper and pencil to make rubbings of names on the wall. They may also assist with locating a name engraved on the memorial.
These directories help locate names on the wall. The directories are organized alphabetically by last name. Each entry includes a panel number and letter; "W" is for "west" or the left half of the memorial, "E" is for east, or the right half of the memorial. The numbers on the wall ascend from the center out toward the left and right extremes. Look at the bottom of each panel on the wall for its number.
On the northeast edge of the Three Servicemen plaza is a rectangular bronze plaque set into a rectangular base on the ground. The plaque measures 24 inches by 36 inches (about 60 by 91 centimeters) with the base about 2 inches (5 centimeters) wider. The plaque is engraved with gold-plated block letters that read: IN MEMORY OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED IN THE VIETNAM WAR AND LATER DIED AS A RESULT OF THEIR SERVICE WE HONOR AND REMEMBER THEIR SACRIFICE
The Three Servicemen is a bronze statue of three young men looking off in the distance with concerned expressions. Their clothing is tinted khaki. They each wear loose rumpled pants tucked into tall, laced boots. The figure in the center stands slightly in front of the other two. His arms are straight and held slightly away from his body with fingers spread. He wears a sleeveless vest with the front zipper open and no shirt underneath. The vest has two bulging square pockets
The Vietnam Women's Memorial honors the women who risked their lives in service during the Vietnam War. The sculpture designed by Glenna Goodacre was dedicated on Veterans Day in 1993. Planted around the statue's plaza are eight yellowwood trees, one to commemorate each of the American women who died during their service in Vietnam whose names are engraved on the wall.
