Vietnam Wall

The Vietnam Wall is a national war memorial located in Washington, D.C. It honors members of the U.S. armed forces who fought in the Vietnam War and who died in service or are still unaccounted for.

The Vietnam Wall's construction and related issues have been the source of numerous controversies, some of which have resulted in additions to the memorial complex. The memorial currently consists of three separate parts: The Three Soldiers statue, the Vietnam Women's Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, which is the most recognized part of the memorial.

The Vietnam Wall was inspired by the 1971 establishment of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park in Angel Fire, New Mexico, which was begun by the grief-stricken parents of Marine First Lieutenant David Westphall, who was among thirteen men in his unit killed in an ambush in Vietnam in 1968.

The main part of the Vietnam Wall, which was completed in 1982, is located in Constitution Gardens adjacent to the National Mall, just northeast of the Lincoln Memorial. The Vietnam Wall is maintained by the U.S. National Park Service, and receives around 3 million visitors each year. The Vietnam Wall was designed by U.S. architect Maya Lin. The typesetting was performed by Datalantic in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2007, it was ranked tenth on the "List of America's Favorite Architecture" by the American Institute of Architects.

During the Vietnam War, 247 men were awarded the Medal of Honor. 154 of those are listed on the Vietnam Wall.

"The Moving Wall" is the half-size replica of the Washington, DC Vietnam Veterans Memorial and has been touring the country for more than twenty years.