The Vietnam Veterans
Memorial serves as a testament to the sacrifice of American military personnel
during one of this nation's least popular wars. The purpose of this memorial is
to separate the issue of the sacrifices of the veterans from the U.S. policy in
the war, thereby creating a venue for reconciliation.
Vietnam Women's
Memorial
The sculpture, designed by Texas native
Glenna Goodacre, depicts three women in battle dress with a wounded
soldier. While one nurse comforts the soldier, another kneels in thought
or prayer. The third looks to the skies - for help from a medevac
helicopter, or perhaps from a higher power. Goodacre left the
interpretation open so that people could read into it whatever they wished.
Support for the
memorial came from all over. Letters poured into the Vietnam Women's
Memorial Project, coming from both male and female veterans. Nurses spoke
of the horror of war and the difficulty of talking to their friends about what
they had seen. One said that in only a year, she had left behind her youth
and her innocence. Soldiers remembered the nurses with love and affection
- the kind smile, the gentle touch, the sofft words that eased their pain.
Parents spoke with gratitude of the nurses who had sent their sons home to them.
want to learn more about Women in Vietnam, click
the ribbon
The Three Soldiers Statue
The Three
Servicemen Statue is a 18 foot bronze statue designed by Frederick Hart.
It was dedicated in November 1984. Service emblems of the Army, Navy, Air
Force, Marines and Coast Guard adorn the base along with the following
inscription, " This flag represents the service rendered to Our Country by the
Veterans of the Vietnam War
.The flag affirms the principles
of Freedom for which they fought and their pride in having served under
difficult circumstances."
Personal Reflections:
This is probably the most moving of the
monuments in Washington D.C.; my daughter and I had just returned from the FDR
Memorial, we walked over to the Three Servicemen's Statue and a hush came upon
me. My eyes began to tear-up and tears streamed down my face. It was
very an emotional moment...... My daughter could not begin to understand
the reasons for the tears, nor could she ever. By the Grace of God, she
hadn't grown up with the horrors of war. The Vietnam Women's Memorial is
one of power and yet grace. To me it represents the Vietnam War that many
fail to remember and it represents the "Battlefield Angels" that gave comfort to
the youngmen and those that gave their last full measure for the country they
loved.......
