On November 13, 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C.   This place of remembrance is a beautiful architectural accomplishment with a powerful message.  I’ve visited the memorial several times, and have been deeply touched each time.

It’s difficult to romanticize war when you see the black cut-stone masonry wall, with the names of 58,261 fallen soldiers carved into its face.^[1]

The Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial was designed by Maya Lin.  In 1981, at age 21 and while still an undergraduate, Lin won a public design competition for the memorial, beating out 1,441 other competition submissions.[2]    She created a masterpiece that is now an American treasure.