The Vietnam Memorials of Washington: All the Unsung Heroes

The Vietnam Veterans' Memorial, architect Maya Lin's haunting V-shaped black wall engraved with names of the dead (and including a separate bronze sculpture) was dedicated on November 11, 1982, in an effort--we're told here--to "separate the war from the warriors." The following year, a statue honoring women veterans was placed on the site. Today, "The Wall" is the most visited memorial in Washington, D.C. The Vietnam Memorials of Washington features historic videotape from the war, footage from the dedications in 1982 and 1993, and scenes with contemporary visitors/mourners at the site. Most touching are the letters--some of which are read here--that have been left at The Wall and saved by the National Park Service. This is a lovely production, but it glosses over some of the controversial history surrounding the "The Wailing Wall of the West," such as the outright furor (with more than a touch of racism) over the selection of Asian-American Maya Lin's design. (That story is well told in Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision [VL-9/96].) Since 1982, The Wall has been widely copied, with shiny black stone monuments being dedicated on courthouse lawns across the country. Almost over the top with sentimentality, this is still sure to be popular and definitely recommended. Aud: J, H, C, P. (R. Reagan)