Although it was my least favorite of all the mall memorial/monuments it is quite powerful in its starkness and simplicity. more

We loved this so much we went twice during our weeklong vacation. Try to catch a park guide giving his free talk. It will be much more meaningful if you can get the entire story behind the memorial, statues, gifts left and the names on the wall. This is a must for our nations youth to learn about this time... more

Well worth a visit. The numerous panels featuring all the soldiers names were absolutely moving. Plenty of books around to look up the names and find out which section to find them in. You can do a rubbing of a name. I noticed though people trying to use ball point pens unsuccessfully as there was nothing but the paper provided.... more

We walked up to the Vietnam Memorial just as one of the volunteers was beginning his talk. Talk about timing! While visiting the memorial would have been a great experience anyway, catching this explanation of so many of the nuances of this memorial was absolutely moving! There wasn't a dry eye in the large crowd that had gathered. Simply incredible!... more

This memorial is the only thing I saw in D.C. that made me cry. This was not the first time I saw the wall and I don't think I have any relatives listed but it moved me to tears to see the names of the people that gave their lives to try to keep other people in a foreign country... more

As an Australian Vietnam Veteran I was extremely proud to be able to stand there and watch the hundreds of people paying their respects to the fallen. As I stood there with tears in my eyes one of the American Veterans who patrol the area came up to me and and asked if he could help. When he found out... more

I was moved by this monument, as a historian, and a patriot. Even if you did not know anyone listed, of course my mother had friends she grew up with that were listed, you can still find someone with your last name. It is a great thing to share with your children. Grab a paper slip and crayon at the... more

If you would like to take a rubbing of a name on the wall, there is an official guide there to help you. He will have slips of paper that have the heading, 'Vietnam Veteran's Memorial', and charcoal for the rubbing. You should look up your name first in one of the books at either end of the memorial, so... more

To think that I almost passed on the Vietnam Memorial...I thought it was just a black wall with names on it...How foolish was I to think that? The Vietnam Memorial was, by far, the most impacting, heartbreaking, enlightenin memorial in all of Washington. There are sooo many names as well as pictures left by relatives. The soldiers were soo young... more