Vietnam Memorial Analysis

When I visited the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., I was struck with an immense feeling of patriotism and gratitude for these soldiers that gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. While I was walking through the dark-tiled pathway, the solemn environment gave me a chance to reflect on the lives and services of these great men and women. I imagined them fighting in an unknown land for the freedom of people they would never meet, the thousands of dead and wounded strewn across the battlefield, soldiers soaked with perspiration as they fought for the victory. I could hear in my mind the machine-gun’s rapid fire and the artillery shits ringing the air. These images created a very depressing picture in my mind, but these visions allowed
(VVMF) successfully lobbied Congress to provide land for the memorial, and then came the task of raising the necessary funds for such a memorial. It was amazing how the entire memorial was completed with private funds, and hundreds of thousands of Americans chipped in to honor their veterans. Finally, a design contest was held, and a college student, Maya Lin, submitted the unique proposal for the memorial. Her design was controversial, but statues such as the Three Servicemen were added, and today the Vietnam memorial is one of the most popular locations in D.C. There is also a lot of symbolism connecting the memorial and the war. One the most distinct features of the memorial is that the names of the deceased are named chronologically by the date of death instead in an alphabetical order, to make sure every name is special and different from the others Additionally, very few know that the black granite used in the memorial is actually from Bangalore, India, one of the few places in the world where black granite can be found! In all, my visit to the Vietnam memorial had a lasting affect on my perception of the war and taught me more about the intricate facts behind its
When I walked up the stunning white marble steps, I began to reminisce about the incredible history behind this memorial and our 16th President. I pictured in my mind Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on those steps, continuing the fight for equality started by President Lincoln. The solemn but buoyant environment surrounding the memorial gave me a chance to remember and honor Lincoln’s achievements and how he led us through one of the toughest times in America’s illustrious history, and I felt a greater connection to Lincoln as a whole. I have always admired Lincoln, but the beautiful placement and design of the memorial gave me a suitable shrine to my hero. In addition to this, my tour guide told many mny interesting facts about the memorial in general. Firstly, it was a long road for the memorial to be completed. The planning for the memorial began right after Lincoln’s assassination, but construction was halted for years because of disputes over the design and the outbreak of World War 1. In the end, it took nearly 50 years to create the memorial! Another interesting fact is that the location was very controversial, since some thought Potomac Park was a “swamp”. Also, Lincoln’s statue’s size was also increased from a paltry 12 feet to a towering monument 19 feet tall. In all, my trip to the Lincoln Memorial was an incredible experience that allowed me