Vietnam & More in Kassel

A very moving memorial. My grandfather's name is on panel 16e, line 129. My mom was here when it was dedicated, and now I have finally seen it.

On holiday from South Africa had the privilege to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. A sobering time as it pays tribute to the members of the U.S. Armed Forces who fought in the Vietnam War and were killed or missing in action.

Of course this was an experience of a lifetime!

Beautiful. So happy that my Vietnam Veteran father could visit this memorial.

Must go to in dc

A place of remembrance. Of our valued vets. God Bless 🇺🇸

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a U.S. national memorial in Washington, D.C., honoring service members of the U.S. armed forces who fought in the Vietnam War. The 2-acre (8,100 m2) site is dominated by a black granite wall engraved with the names of those service members who died as a result of their service in Vietnam and South East Asia during the war. The wall, completed in 1982, has since been supplemented with the statue The Three Soldiers and the Vietnam Women's Memorial The memorial is in Constitution Gardens, adjacent to the National Mall and just northeast of the Lincoln Memorial. The memorial is maintained by the National Park Service, and receives around 3 million visitors each year. The Memorial Wall was designed by American architect Maya Lin. In 2007, it was ranked tenth on the "List of America's Favorite Architecture" by the American Institute of Architects. As a National Memorial, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. On April 27, 1979, four years after the Fall of Saigon, The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. (VVMF), was incorporated as a non-profit organization to establish a memorial to veterans of the Vietnam War. Much of the impetus behind the formation of the fund came from a wounded Vietnam veteran, Jan Scruggs, who was inspired by the film The Deer Hunter, with support from fellow Vietnam veterans such as West Point and Harvard Business School graduate John P. Wheeler III.[4] Eventually, $8.4 million was raised by private donations. On July 1, 1980, a site covering two acres next to the Lincoln Memorial was chosen and authorized by Congress[4] where the World War I Munitions Building previously stood. Congress announced that the winner of a design competition would design the park. By the end of the year 2,573 registered for the design competition with a prize of $20,000. On March 30, 1981, 1,421 designs were submitted. The designs were displayed at an airport hangar at Andrews Air Force Base for the selection committee, in rows covering more than 35,000 square feet (3,300 m2) of floor space. Each entry was identified by number only, to preserve the anonymity of their authors. All entries were examined by each juror; the entries were narrowed down to 232, then 39. Finally, the jury selected entry number 1026, designed by Maya Lin. Opposition to design and compromise Edit See also: Maya Lin § Vietnam Veterans Memorial The selected design was very controversial, in particular, its unconventional design, its black color and its lack of ornamentation.[22] Some public officials voiced their displeasure, calling the wall "a black gash of shame."[23] Two prominent early supporters of the project, H. Ross Perot and James Webb, withdrew their support once they saw the design. Said Webb, "I never in my wildest dreams imagined such a nihilistic slab of stone."[24] James Watt, secretary of the interior under President Ronald Reagan, initially refused to issue a building permit for the memorial due to the public outcry about the design.[25] Since its early years, criticism of the Memorial's design faded. In the words of Scruggs, "It has become something of a shrine."[23] Negative reactions to Maya Lin's design created a controversy; a compromise was reached by commissioning Frederick Hart (who had placed third in the original design competition) to produce a bronze figurative sculpture in the heroic tradition. Opponents of Lin's design had hoped to place this sculpture of three soldiers at the apex of the wall's two sides. Lin objected strenuously to this, arguing that this would make the soldiers the focal point of the memorial, and her wall a mere backdrop. A compromise was reached, and the sculpture was placed off to one side to minimize the impact of the addition on Lin's design. On October 13, 1982, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts approved the erection of a flagpole to be grouped with sculptures. Building the memorial Edit On March 11, 1982, the revised design was formally approved, and on March 26, 1982, the ground was formally broken. Stone from Bangalore, India, was chose

I was stationed in the Military District of Washington at ft Belvoir VA I watched Jan Scruggs build the Wall or the Vietnam veterans Memorial I was in Vietnam 1968-69 I came to the Dedication on November 13 1982 my Med E Vac Huey from Davison army Airfield. flew in the salute. Fly by after I marched in the Welcome Home Parade. Part of the National welcome home week in Washington DC. I came back every 2 years on Veterans day. Was at the Tenth Anniversary of the Wall sharing photos of those days.

Amazing and a must see if in DC

Very clean, somber monument, it is longer and taller than it feels like in shows. There was a veteran there with incredible insight into the 58,279 names on the wall. The lost starts in the middle and the symbols next to the name tell you their status +missing ◇confirmed killed. It is a solemn but important walk.

Breath taking memorial. Been wanting to go since I was a little kid ever since I heard every vet’s name was written on the memorial. It’s a short walk from the reflecting pool, no reason not to go

Excellent tour

It is a beautiful wall of the memory of the names missing or who died. I always visit the beautiful statues, memorials, korean memorial, WWII, in DC

A sacred place to remember and touch those we lost in the Vietnam War

Loved it

There is something profound about this memorial. It seems understated, but as you walk in the wall keeps going and going. Name after name after name. If you are visiting the Mall this is one memorial you cannot miss. It is within easy walking distance from the Lincoln Memorial.

Amazing place to visit. Very sobering... Many gave their lives in that war, as commemorated on the way of names...

Love this Park It's all about My Vietnamese Brothers & Sisters 💯

As a Vietnamese person born after the war and have a short time to visit Washington in 2019, I was impressed by the design ideas of the whole Vietn Veterans Memorial. The black wall with several names is very emotional, especially when I saw one vetaran visiting, searching for his friends' name, praying and then crying and when I saw that much flowers for the dead people. The war is not good for both sides, all wars! It caused lost for many families and countries and it is a huge lost of the history.

Very well done. This is a must see in DC.

Everyone should visit before democrats destroy the beauty that is Washington D.C.

Breathtaking.

Sad to see the lack of personal momentos this visit.what a world these days.

It was awesome

Beautiful and we had the fortune of being there on Veterans Day.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial has always been an important gathering place and shows the inscribed names of 58000 Casualties from the Vietnam War. At the Center of the memorial is the start of the timeline. This spot is maintained by the National Parks Service and Non-Profit organizations. For detailed information use the nps.gov website.

Solemn

ererrerererrerererrerrererrererrerererrerererererre highley reccemend going here very cccccooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool

Honestly. It is my favorite memorial. It really hit me in the feels. All those names...

It was great

Honoring those who fought and died in the war. This is a significant place where you can reflect. The design is very memorable.

Humbling and Sad. This memorial should have never been necessary. So many young lives snuffed out for corporate profit.

Paying respect

Nice, well kept, sad but grateful memories of those that gave their life for their friend and country

Smells like smoke so bad

Very moving.

Beautiful but you can feel the pain..

As we visited DC we had to stop by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Amazing memorial for all our fallen troops.

Very humbling to finally get to see in person

Very very very enjoyable sorry it took me this long

I don't have any personal connections to anyone listed on the memorial, but I was moved as I perused the names on each panel.

Loved the history

My father's name is on that Wall ssgt.Juan P.R.CASTRO K.I.A 1969 VIEATNAM ist nice and respektvoll gesture May all the others R.I.P.

I don't really have word on this experience, other than I went here during a field trip in April of 2009. Rest in peace to these men, including two of my hometown's casualties (Charles Yates & Larry Porter; Turbeville, SC)

So Amazing.

Beautiful

Very clean and peace full place.

Just beautiful.

Incredible structure and effective site design

Such touching thoughts and memories, great Memorial