Part 5a of Vacation

We had changed motels the previous night and when we were having breakfast at the motel, I looked out the window and across the street, I saw that they had the traveling Vietnam Veteran Wall--another God wink. Here it was directly across the street. Although, we have seen it a couple times and the real wall in Washington, D.C. we had to take the opportunity to see it again. 

As we arrived, there was a man giving a presentation about the wall. As I said, we have seen the wall numerous times but never had we had such an interesting and knowledgeable guide. I wish I could remember all that he told us. I will try to give as much as I can.

Once it was decided to have a Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., it was decided to have an nationwide contest open to any American 18 years or older. The criteria included that they wanted all the names of those who died or MIA on the wall (over 58,000 names). 

1422 entries were received. Due to the number of entries, they used an aircraft hanger to display them all. All designs had the name of the designer in an envelope on the back of the entry, making it unknown to the judges. The winner was Maya Lin, a Yale student from Ohio. She chose black granite which would reflect the surrounding trees and monuments. It would be situated with one end pointing toward the Washington Monument and the other toward the Lincoln Memorial. 

Although the judges unanimously chose her design, there was controversy from the public because she was an Asian woman but she was born in America. Some also complained about the simplistic and black design. She described her design as if a knife had cut the earth, opening it up and in the passage of time the pain would heal. 

There were those who complained that those who served and later died (most from Agent Orange exposure) were not represented on the wall, so this plaque was added. 

This statue was added in 1984.

Women wanted representation too, so this statue was added in 1993 depicting a nurse, which was the duty of most women in Vietnam. 

It was also decided an American flag should be included. 

The wall has a V-shape. The names begin and end in the middle, making it complete. Starting with 1959 with those who severed in the very beginning and ending in 1975. As I was looking up some of the facts to include in here that I didn't remember exactly, I discovered the story of Richard B. Fitzgibbon Jr, who was actually the first killed in Vietnam in 1956, murdered by another American soldier. Somehow they added his name to the wall in 1999. His son, who was a marine, was also killed in 1965 and his name is also on the wall.

It was decided to list the names by date of death to make it easier. Listing names alphabetically would have been very complicated with over 660 Smiths alone. It was decided not to put rank with the names to show that not one life lost was more valuable than any other. Originally the MIA were to be listed and some family members complained, holding onto the hope that their loved ones would be found. MIAs are listed on the wall with a cross next to their name indicating they have not been found. If they are found, the symbol is altered. 

You can see how the design reflects the area around it.

Whenever we visit the wall, we look for the name of a school friend of George. Here is his name on the wall, Paul H. Phillips. He was living in Torrington at the time of his entry into the service. I personally, don't know anyone on the wall, but it is still a moving tribute any time I see it.