Books with title The Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Since its dedication in 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial has become an American cultural icon symbolizing the war in Vietnam--the defining experience of the Baby Boom generation. The black granite wall of names is one of the most familiar media images associated with the war, and after three decades the memorial remains one of the nation's most visited monuments. While the memorial has enjoyed broad acceptance by the American public, its origins were both humble and contentious. A grassroots effort launched by veterans with no funds, the project was completed in three and a half years. But an emotional debate about aesthetics and the interpretation of heroism, patriotism and history nearly doomed the project. Written from an insider's perspective, this book tells the complete story of the memorial's creation amid Washington politics, a nationwide design competition and the heated controversy over the winning design and its creator.

The black granite Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., draws millions of visitors every year. They come to remember and honor the loved ones they lost in the Vietnam War, one of America’s most divisive conflicts. They touch the names engraved on the V-shaped monument, known as the Wall, and view the nearby sculptures. The memorial is one of the most inspirational sites in the nation’s capital. But it wasn’t always so. The monument’s design was controversial, just as the Vietnam War had been.