1. Washington, D.C. By: Kim Haynes Vietnam Veterans Memorial

2. About the wall… In 1980 Congress set aside 3 acres in Constitution Gardens for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. During that same year a design contest, open to anyone 18 or older, was held to select a design for the memorial. 1,421 designs were entered by the March 31, 1981 deadline The winning design was by Maya Lin, a 21 year old student at Yale University. The memorial was dedicated on November 13, 1982. There are more than 58,000 names on the wall. Names with a cross are missing in action or were at prisoner status at the end of the war. Names marked with a diamond have been confirmed deceased. If the serviceman remains are returned or he is otherwise accounted for a diamond is superimposed over the cross.

3. notice the symbols before or after the names on the wall

5. When you visit The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall you will notice that it is very quiet and somber. Why do you think this park has such a quiet, somber mood?