The Wall: A Behind the Scenes Look at the Great Vietnam Veterans Memorial

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, "The Wall", or the V.V.M. was just an idea in 1979 needing support from others to become a reality. It all started with Corporal Jan Scruggs who served in the 199th Light Infantry Brigade from 1969-170. He constructed an idea that all the men and women who served in Vietnam should be recognized and honored for their service in the war.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. began soon thereafter in April of 1979 as other Vietnam Veterans decided to incorporate the idea. Before long strong support was issued from Senators from Maryland and Virginia trying to push the issue further to get it established. A little over a year later President Jimmy Carter had signed the legislation to have the wall built which would take approximately three and a half years to build and be placed within the Constitution Gardens that are near the Lincoln Memorial.

On November 11, 1984 the Memorial was constructed together with all phases which included the wall, flag, and statue. The control of the Memorial was then transferred over to the United States Department of Interior from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. and became a national monument. Two hundred and seventy-five thousand Americans donated to the fund and the V.V.M.F. along with other funding sources to raise more than $9,000,000 total.

The Wall- was designed by Maya Ying Lin who at the time was an undergraduate at Yale University. Her idea of forming the Memorial was to create somewhat of a park inside of a park. The reflection off of the Memorial shines trees into the distance from the beautiful area of the Constitution Gardens, which made it a perfect area to be be placed. The calming feeling created something surreal that would build emotions for those that visited. When you visit, if you look up to the top portion of the Memorial at the apex of a curb placed there for her, the Vietnam officers, architects, and others that contributed to the monument.

58,253 names are listed on The Wall that include those who died in the Vietnam War. As of today there still are around 1200 that are considered missing, or POWs. All of the soldier's names you see were actually compiled by the Department of Defense and then cross-checked by the V.V.M. to be careful not to make any potential errors by hand.

All the names you will find were added in chronological order by the dated of their casualty. Then within each day all names are in alphabetized order so those coming to pay tribute will find their friends and loved ones easier. Although July 8th, 1959 is the first inscriptions of casualities which were Dale R. Buis and Chester R. Orvnand (which was mispelled on the wall as Orvnard), the first actual casualty of war was Richard B. Fitzgibbon, but his son Richard B. Fitzgibbon III died in the war on September 7th, 1965 and they placed their names next to each other on The Wall.

If you would like additional information regarding the Vietnam Veterans Memorial you can do so with the link I have provided below. Feel free to search any of the soldiers to find out a little more information about their lives and help us make them become more than just a name on The Wall.

The beginning inscription on the Memorial reads;

"In honor of the men and women or the armed forces of the United States who served in the Vietnam War. The names of those who gave their lives and of those who remain missing are inscribed in the order they were taken from us".

and the ending insription reads;

"Our nation honors the courage, sacrifice, and devotion to duty and country of its Vietnam Veterans. This Memorial was built with private contributions from the American people. November 11, 1982"