Vietnam Veterans Memorial 25th Anniversary - VOA Story

Monday, March 26th marks the 25th anniversary of groundbreaking for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. Architect Maya Lin's 1982 design was considered controversial at the time. But today, the wall is widely seen as a simple, moving memorial -- the standard by which other memorials often are judged. VOA's Jeff Swicord talked with several veterans at a recent gathering in Washington - and asked them what the memorial has come to mean to them.
The Vietnam War memorial has been called one of the most poignant and meaningful monuments ever conceived.
For 25 years, U.S. military veterans and visitors from around the world have come here to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington to remember and honor those who lost lives in the war.
Veterans -- such as Steve Ryan who served as a hospital corpsman from 1968 to 1972. He is visiting the wall for the first time. "It's very moving. It's very moving and it's sad, but it is a happy feeling and it gives me closure. Because I wondered where a few of my fellow hospital corpsmen went after 1968. And, I see some of their names."
There are more than 58,200 names inscribed on the black granite wall. It is a place where veterans from across the U.S. can meet, remember and pay tribute to their fallen brothers.
Some look for the names of their friends and family members in quiet reflection. Others, like Frank Stroble, trade stories with other veterans. He served as a helicopter pilot from 1969 to 1970. "It chokes me up every time. It brings back a lot of memories because there are a lot of guys on the wall that I remember, and when I look at their names I remember them just like it was yesterday."
Volunteers at the memorial are mostly veterans or family members of those named on the wall. They are on hand to help visitors. They look up names in a directory, make rubbings of names on paper and just listen to visitors express their feelings.
Volunteer Chuck Schueckler also served as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. "You want to tell me anything about him?" he asks a visitor.
"After the war, most family members found out that their friends really didn't want to talk about the person who died in the war. So, coming and seeing the name and also having someone to talk with about the name, it gives them that opportunity," Schueckler explained.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial has been selected to receive the 2007 American Institute of Architects' 25 year award. The award is given for architectural design that has stood the test of time.
For most veterans, like John Staggs, the wall will always be an enduring symbol of the most fundamental American value. "Freedom. Without a doubt," he says. "These men have laid down their lives for something that this country has been built on, believe in."

Category:

News & Politics

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• Vietnam
• Veterans
• Memorial
• Groundbreaking
• Anniversary
• Maya
• Lin
• Washington
• D.C.
• military
• Chuck
• Schueckler

[walhallasucks]

I want to have a "Hippies Memorial".Those fallen soldiers are nothing more than Modern day Inquisitor for Keneddy who supported Roman Catholic Fundamentalist like Diem Bien Phu and lady Nhu (the Viet Cunt).

[ComradeMiller]

We will never forget the brave men who invaded a small country, without any good reason, to slaughter its people and support a tyrannical regime.

[FLICKtheUSA]

@DeejaySmitt

"Duty" is a made up word to get morons to take stupid risks. Instead of actually giving those poor bastards a real reason to fight, they called it "duty" and 60,000 are dead.

The ones who survived are old and bitter. Their most vital years were stolen from then and they know it.

[DeejaySmitt]

Hey people theres something called having a heart. These men did their duty just like the other side were doing their's. I dont give a shit if you think America sucks or Vietnam sucks but you should respect them men who went into hell and made it out alive to tell the stories of their fallen brothers.

[GodziraRules]

@COMMUNISTPHILOSOPHY Losers you said???Sure... Just like Russians in Afghanistan .

[COMMUNISTPHILOSOPHY]

a wall to glorify fascist losers

[patsrulejc]

@TheMIEProject maybe if northern vietnam wasnt made up of a bunch commie basterds there were be no need for agent orange. so fuck off go to the rice paddies or something

[TheMIEProject]

@patsrulejc Ey!!! you are seriously comparing our bamboo trap to american bombs, guns, and chemicals. Despite the fact that we use bamboo stick to kick your ass out. Today, while u americans were busy getting yourself fat. We Vietnamese are still suffering from the "agent Fucking Orange" that you shit on 70 years ago.

[patsrulejc]

@COMMUNISTPHILOSOPHY really what about hitlers forces holcaust, japanese forces the walk through hell, nd the POW camps in vietnam where they made troops play russian roulette, nd ake porcupine needles stick up there dick holes, the also to bamboo nd ripped off all of there finger nails. u commie bastard

[masterchiefer123]

@COMMUNISTPHILOSOPHY

commie scum go suck ho chi minhs baby cock in hell you bitch