(i wrote this from a list of notes compiled from listening to my dad talking about his experience in vietnam/his feelings about the wall)
The Vietnam Wall As Seen By A Veteran
maya lin designed the concept
every letter of 58,307 names spills onto a gray palette
every name is perfectly carved - honoring those who have died
all of them equal -
not listed by rank
not listed by branch
it seems as though no other monument is as inclusive
listing every single victim of war
and although the war seemed half a world away
all the way in vietnam
you don't realize how personal it is
until you run your fingers over the name etched, among thousands of others
tens of thousands names whittled onto the gray canvas
makes you wonder if truly anyone did not know someone who had died
the statues tell a story of their own
one illustrates that soldiers - brown and white and black - all served together, fighting for our lives
the statue of the women
although fewer died, so many served
they may not have been in combat roles
but they were placed in danger
vietnam didn't have a front line
vietnam didn't have a specified combat zone
combat was everywhere
danger was everywhere
women in the military who enlisted and died
sculpted with such accuracy
but often times, women civilians are forgotten
where are their names?
where are their stories told?
