Simple and powerful. Walk along the wall and and pay attention to those who have lost a freind, a husband, a father. Look at the flowers and cards and the base of the wall and remember those who sacrificed so much for you. Be respectful when visiting. The statues that are a part of the memorial are just as moving.... more

Find out who you are looking for before going. There are several online sites. The great thing about the memorial was everyone was respectful here and it was moving to see things like cans of peaches or happy birthday letters sent to loved ones on the base of the wall. If you go to the mall, I'd stop by and... more

I'm not sure why this is, but I really was not expecting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to look the way it did. Naturally, I knew it was composed of stark black walls with names carved in it, but I was surprised by the way it blended into the ground. As you walk up, the top of the wall is essentially... more

Came upon this on a school trip, as a chaperone. Watching the 8th graders fooling around as we approached, I was not really aware of what lay in store. It starts out very simple & small, a few feet tall & a path walks next to it. As the time line of the war increases & the deaths mount, the... more

Like all monuments to war you should pause & reflect here for a few minutes on the sacrifices that people have made.A stark momument of black granite but the handwriiten notes that are left here daily would melt your heart .Take time to read & respect them .A must see when you visit Washington. more

I had always seen pictures of this Memorial, but have to say that finally seeing it in person, it seemed much smaller and not as impressive. It's very stark, of course, but the wall itself goes downhill along a cut-bank and is topped by a plain grassy area, so it seems almost as if it is half-hidden. That said, it... more

While some of the monuments along the Mall are grand in size and scale, the Vietnam Memorial is simple, yet very moving when you realize the sheer number of names along the wall. On our visit, there were several guides available, and a ladder nearby for those who needed to get up higher to view or do a rubbing of... more

The most-understated moving, herat rending moment of my life. Compared to the almost over the top momuments in DC - this brought people to tears. Not just vets but people of all ages. It will not make you feel good - it will reflect on your soul and it is not pretty. A must see for everyone - Outside the... more

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