Vietnam Women’s Memorial Washington DC

Vietnam Women’s Memorial Washington DC

Six years ago on our Washington DC road trip, my son and I spent our 7th day walking the National Mall and visiting the memorials.  The Vietnam Memorial Statues and Wall were a definite stop that day.

The memorials weren’t part of our Roadtrippers itinerary, but they very well should have been!  See, I had not learned how to use the app yet when we took this trip.  I was a beginner and missed out on a lot of potential stops.  I’m glad we abandoned our itinerary.

The Vietnam Women’s Memorial is actually part of the Vietnam Memorial, it was just added on later, in 1993.  After visiting the Women’s Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery, it is so nice to see our nation starting to recognize and acknowledge that women serve too.  Women have done great things and should be honored as well.

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About Vietnam Women’s Memorial Washington DC

During the Vietnam War, women served as nurses and physicians, air traffic controllers, communication specialists, and intelligence officers.  265,000 women served during the Vietnam War era.

The bronze sculpture that is the Vietnam Women’s Memorial was established to honor those women who risked their lives for this country.  The names of the women who lost their lives are included on the Vietnam wall.

The artist who created this memorial, Glenna Goodacre, explained, “The emphasis of this tribute is centered on their emotions – their compassion, their anxiety, their fatigue, and above all, their dedication.”  She died at 80 years old at her home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The memorial depicts three women caring for a wounded soldier.  It stands six feet, eight inches tall and weighs a ton.  The Vietnam Women’s Memorial was dedicated on Veteran’s Day in 1993.

Located in the National Mall at 5 Henry Bacon Drive NW, the memorial is free to visit and open 24/7/365.  Phone: (202) 426-6841.

Summary

It was on our way to Washington DC this trip that my son and I first discussed inequalities between men and women.  During the drive, we had heard a song that spoke about it, and he asked what it meant.  So, we discussed.

It was pretty cool to me, to discover that a Vietnam Women’s Memorial had been added on to the Vietnam Memorial to honor the women that served in this war as well.

Have you been there?  I’d love to hear what you thought of it.  Do you know a woman that served?

Please drop a few lines in the comments box below and let me know how your visit went.

In the meantime, safe travels!

~Kris M.

P.S.  If you happen to use travel journals, be sure to check out the travel journal I created for my future Washington DC Road Trips.

Written by Kris M.