Maya Lin: Taking a Stand for the True Reality of War

Maya Lin: Taking a Stand for the True Reality of War Kate LeBaron Junior Division Extended Research Paper Student-composed Words: 2,408 1

1 When Maya Lin designed a monument in 1981 she took a unique stand for 2 the true reality of war Despite public opposition to her vision for a Vietnam War Memorial, Lin stood firm and created a special, healing monument in Washington, D.C. Background The Vietnam War Memorial opened seven years after the polemic war came to an end, but the emotional scars the war caused ran deep. The war was a costly battle between the anti-communist government of South Vietnam and fought the 3 North Vietnamese army with the help of the U.S. The U.S. government viewed its 4 involvement in the war as a way to prevent Communist takeover of South Vietnam. This was part of a goal to stop the spread of communism, a political theory where property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their 5 abilities and needs. Each year, America became more and more politically entrenched in the Vietnam conflict. Many American Vietnam veterans were treated with disdain and were 6 essentially shunned once they returned home from war. It is difficult to report publicly the ugly and vulgar provocation of many of the militants. They spat on some of the 1 Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Founder: Monument Almost Never Got Built 2 Lin, Maya. "Making the Memorial." The New York Review of Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 3 History.com Staff. "Vietnam War History." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 4 "Vietnam War." American History USA. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 5 "Communism - Infogram, Charts & Infographics." Create Infographics, Charts and Maps. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Feb. 6 "The Pentagon." Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2

7 soldiers in the front line at the Pentagon and goaded them with vicious personal 8 slander," James Reston of the New York Times reported. 9 The veterans were seemingly bl amed for what had happened in Vietnam. Since many veterans were being harassed, had post traumatic stress disorder, felt unworthy and dishonored, and had mental and physical problems from the war, nearly 750,000 of them out of the 1.6 million who fought in Vietnam, became homeless, 10 while even more committed suicide. After about four years later back from Vietnam, Jan Scruggs, a retired Vietnam soldier suddenly had flashbacks of a particular accident when he was in the war, and the idea at once came to him to design and build a memorial with the names of American service members listed on an obelisk who had died in the Vietnam war. 11 This obelisk would help heal American Vietnam vets from the Vietnam war. This design would be able to help post traumatic stress while also helping the country 12 move on without forgetting the great deals of lives lost. Scruggs first raised the idea 13 of a memorial at a local meeting of the Vietnam veterans of America. He proposed 7 "The Pentagon." Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 8 Reston, James. "Everyone Is a Loser; Washington a Sad and Brooding City In Wake of Antiwar Demonstration The Peace Protest: Everyone a Loser." The New York Times [New York] 23 Oct. 1967: 1. Print. 9 "Coming Home: Vietnam Veterans in American Society." Vietnam War Reference Library. 10 "How Were the Vietnam Veterans Treated after the War?" Reference. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 11 Vespa, Mary, and Pat Gallagher. "His Dream Was to Heal a Nation with the Vietnam Memorial, but Jan Scruggs s Healing Isn t Over Yet Vol. 29 No. 21." PEOPLE.com. 12 "PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)." This Is VietNow. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Mar. 13 "Jan Scruggs." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation 3

an Obelisk 30 feet high, erected without government funds, with the names of the 14 dead inscribed on it. His idea was first strongly opposed. Some felt the idea was naive, while others argued it would distract the 15 organization from winning better benefits for veterans. Although Vietnam War veteran Bob Doubek, who was present at the meeting, supported the idea. Doubek immediately advised Scruggs to form a nonprofit corporation to raise funds to build a Vietnam memorial. 16 Scruggs announced the information of the Vietnam veterans memorial fund on 17 May 28th, 1979. After two months, Scruggs had raised just $144.50 in funds from different organizations. About this time, CBS news weekend and weekday substitute anchorman Roger Mudd aired a report on the CBS evening news ridiculing the 18 19 fundraising effort. Mudd's report, however, also raised the VVMF profile, and over 20 the next two years, Scruggs raised more than $8 million dollars from private donors. He later asked Congress to approve its location next to the National mall in Washington D.C. On July 1, 1980, in the Rose Garden, President Jimmy Carter signed the legislation to provide a site in Constitution Gardens near the Lincoln 14 "WikiVisually.com." WikiVisually. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 15 UpClosed. "Jan Scruggs Lawyer Biography." UpClosed. UpClosed, n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 16 UpClosed. "Jan Scruggs Lawyer Biography." UpClosed. UpClosed, n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 17 "Jan Scruggs." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Feb. Web. 07 Mar. 18 19 "WikiVisually.com." WikiVisually. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 20 "Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Feb. Web. 02 Mar. 4

21 22 Memorial to place the winning design, and on April 27th, 1979, the contest was launched into action. At the same time a Yale student, Maya Lin s class had been studying how people express their attitude toward death. Maya Lin s class heard about the competition and they agreed that their final project should to design a monument 23 about the Vietnam War. As she was thinking Maya Lin thought: At first, I had no idea what a memorial should be about, but as I looked at pictures of memorials from World War 1 and studied them closely, I realized the images of these monuments were extremely moving. 24 They captured emotionally what I felt memorials should be: honest about the reality of war, about the loss of life in war, and about remembering those who served and especially those who died...i felt that the politics had eclipsed the veterans, their service, and their lives. 25 I wanted to create a memorial that everyone would be able to respond to, regardless of whether one thought our country should or should not have participated in the war. 26 But on a personal level, I wanted to focus on the nature of accepting and coming to terms with 27 a loved one s death. In Woolsey Hall, the walls are inscribed with the names of all the 28 Yale alumni who have been killed in battles. Lin expressed I had never been able to resist touching the names cut into these 21 "Wall Information." Wall Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 22 "Vietnam Veterans Memorial." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Feb. Web. 03 Mar. 23 Lin, Maya. "Making the Memorial." The New York Review of Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 24 25 26 27 28 5

marble walls, and no matter how busy or crowded the place is, 29 sense of quiet, a reverence, always surrounds those names. I think it left a lasting impression the sense of the power by 30 name. Right before her design was due she quickly started sketching her design of a black granite wall, v-shaped, hidden in the ground with the names of all those who had 31 given their lives in the Vietnam War engraved in chronological order. She sent her 32 unique design off to the competition never expecting to hear about it again. A few weeks later when all the entries were submitted, there were so many that the eight judges who were picking the winning design had to call in an air force 33 hangar to help set up all 1441 designs. The judges included two landscape architects, two structural architects, an expert on urban development and landscape, 34 and three sculptors. As one judge walked around the designs he found one design that caught his eye. It was Maya Lin s. He ultimately chose her number, entry 1026, which he found to be an eloquent place where the simple meeting of earth, sky and remembered names contains messages for all. 35 After a short discussion with the other judges they decided her design deserved to be the true winner. 29 30 31 Lin, Maya. "Making the Memorial." The New York Review of Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 32 33 "Vietnam Veterans Memorial." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Feb. Web. 03 Mar. 34 "Wall Information." Wall Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 35 Klein, Christopher. "The Remarkable Story of Maya Lin s Vietnam Veterans Memorial." Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, 10 Mar. 2016. Web. 03 Mar. 6

A few weeks later, after Maya Lin got a B on her project at Yale she was more surprised than ever when office officials stormed her dormitory and announced that she had won the design contest. At first she thought the eight member Jury randomly picked her number, 1026, since at that time she didn t even have a bachelor degree in architecture. 36 After Jan Scruggs heard about the winning design he later thought, I knew 37 when it was selected it would arise controversy, her design looks like a boomerang: the war always coming back to you. The design was to be approved by different 38 governmental agencies at the design development phases. The day after her college graduation, she immediately became part of the 39 struggle to control their design with those who were jealous, confused, and angered. 40 Today This wall is one of the most visited monuments in the U.S and 41 deliberately healed America but three years before the wall was constructed, the 42 wall was being described as harsh as the actual war itself. Veterans who were excited for the new memorial, were deeply discouraged when they realized that this new design was not what they hoped for at all, made with the dark black granite and 36 Lin, Maya. "Making the Memorial." The New York Review of Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 37 "Maya Lin." Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 38 Lin, Maya. "Making the Memorial." The New York Review of Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 39 40 Joszt, Laura. "Most Visited U.S. Monuments." MD Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Mar. 41 Jacobs, Tom. "The Healing Power of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial." Pacific Standard. Pacific Standard, 23 Apr. 2010. Web. 04 Mar. 42 Klein, Christopher. "The Remarkable Story of Maya Lin s Vietnam Veterans Memorial." Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, 10 Mar. 2016. Web. 04 Mar. 7

43 sucked into the earth. "The idea of millions of schoolchildren year after year going to the National Mall and standing at the Vietnam Memorial and thinking 'This is what it 44 means to be an American soldier?' Produced a lot of anxiety. Tom Carhart, like many other veterans especially did not accept this design. Carhart, who was a lawyer and historian for the Department of the Army in Washington, D.C.,a twice-wounded Vietnam veteran, and a Ph.D. in American and 45 military history from Princeton University in New Jersey, eagerly joined the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund as a volunteer. He later said, I had earned two Purple Hearts as an infantry platoon leader in Vietnam, and I was proud not only of my own service but also of all those who served with me. I was especially proud of those who gave their lives, and I saw this as the opportunity for our nation to finally render 46 honor that was due. In Carhart s opinion that honor was not realized as the civilian committee chose Lin s design, this was proven when he stated: One needs no artistic education to see this design for what it is, a black trench that scars the Mall. Black walls, the universal color of shame and sorrow and degradation. Hidden in a hole in the ground, with no means of access for those Vietnam veterans who are condemned to spend the rest of their days in a wheelchair. Perhaps that's an appropriate design for those who would spit on us still. But can America truly mean that we should feel honored by that black pit?" 47 43 Cellania, Miss, AX2USN, Foreigner1, Jdch, Edward 1, and Justin 4. "Building the Wall." Neatorama. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Mar. 44 "Here's How a Controversial Work of Art Healed America after Vietnam." Public Radio International. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Mar. 45 Carhart, Tom. "INSULTING VIETNAM VETS." The New York Times. The New York Times, 23 Oct. 1981. Web. 04 Mar. 46 Carhart, Tom. "INSULTING VIETNAM VETS." The New York Times. The New York Times, 23 Oct. 1981. Web. 04 Mar. 47 "The "Black Gash of Shame": Revisiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Controversy." Art21. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Mar. 8

Her granite wall was also initially derided as a black gash of shame by 48 Vietnam veteran Tom carhart. Some saw it as an anti-war statement; and others 49 wondered why an Asian-American should be the designer. In 1979, Ross Perot, a local businessman became heavily involved in the Vietnam Veterans Memorial design. Perot pledged his donation of $171,000, which 50 he also wanted to show gratitude for those who served. He quickly withdrew his 51 support after he found out the winning design. For three years, from 1981 through 1984, the design of the memorial -- "the 52 Wall"-- was the subject of a bitter dispute. Leading the effort to block "the Wall" 53 was Ross Perot. When Maya Lin was proclaimed the winner of the competition, Ross Perot told the fund's president, Jan Scruggs, "You've made a big, big, mistake. 54 55 He said the wall was an insult to veterans returning home from war. At first Opponents wanted something more than the wall, but as the struggle went on, many veterans proclaimed their ideas for the wall to fight for compromises, for it to be white 48 "The "Black Gash of Shame": Revisiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Controversy." Art21. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Mar. 49 "Here's How a Controversial Work of Art Healed America after Vietnam." Public Radio International. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Mar. 50 JOHN WHEELER John Wheeler. "Perot's War Against the Vets' 'Wall' : Monumental Battle: His Tactics in Fighting the Original Design Reveal Much about the Man Who Would Be President." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 03 June 1992. Web. 04 Mar. 51 52 53 54 55 Denise Kersten Wills on November 1, 2007. "The Vietnam Memorial's History." Washingtonian. N.p., 01 Nov. 2007. Web. 06 Mar. 9

56 rather than black, above ground, with a tall American flag at the vertex and the 57 names listed alphabetically rather than by the order of death. Why is every other monument in Washington D.C scraping the sky and sparkling white, and Maya Lin s design is sunken in the Earth deep and hidden like the service of vets should be hidden away? stated one Vietnam soldier. Others felt that Lin s ethnicity was odd and they were wondering why an Asian should be the designer of an American monument. Vietnam veterans made it seem apparent that she was too young to 58 understand what she had actually done or see her design through completion. Some Veterans attacked the design for showing sorrow and remorse. This is how many who 59 protested felt about the war, crude and sorrowful. While this was happening Maya Lin was fighting for her wall. Many veterans wanted the color change because they thought white would be more bright and honoring but thanks to Maya Lin fighting for her wall, the Vietnam wall is now reflective, peaceful, calm, tranquil, and above all 60 healing America from the Vietnam war. Because of this many Vietnam vets became receptive and pleased. One official said, The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is easily the most visually arresting-- 56 PBS. Public Broadcasting Service, n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 57 JOHN WHEELER John Wheeler. "Perot's War Against the Vets' 'Wall' : Monumental Battle: His Tactics in Fighting the Original Design Reveal Much about the Man Who Would Be President." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 03 June 1992. Web. 06 Mar. 58 Lin, Maya. "Making the Memorial." The New York Review of Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 59 "Carried to the Wall: American Memory and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial." Choice Reviews Online 36.05 (1999): n. pag. Web. 60 Jacobs, Tom. "The Healing Power of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial." Pacific Standard. Pacific Standard, 23 Apr. 2010. Web. 07 Mar. 10

and emotionally powerful-- site on the Mall. Lin's design is a work of utter genius. The effect here is astounding-- you soon become overwhelmed by the enormity of the loss. Where the wall's corner is, the names now tower over you. The feeling is impossible 61 to describe. American Legion kicked in significant amounts of money to get it built, and they also defended Maya Lin's design against criticism. Many Americans did as 62 well - Ross Perot donated nearly a million dollars. Although He still, (along with other pro-war people), felt that something had to be added to the design to make a clearer statement about the cause that the dead 63 soldiers had sacrificed for. This lead to the idea of adding: the flag, women s memorial, and the statue of 64 the three serviceman. Maya Lin agreed but she made sure the color of black and 65 the chronology order stayed the same on her wall. This pleased others thinking there 66 was a better, more political concept to describe the Vietnam War. Eventually, a 67 compromise was made to add all three of these pieces to her wall. Since this wall the best solution for both sides on March 11, 1982, the revised design was formally 68 approved, and work at the site was begun on March 16, 1982. The names are still 69 listed chronologically by date of death, along with the peaceful black granite. The 61 "The Vietnam Veterans Memorial." Daily Kos. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 62 63 "The Vietnam Veterans Memorial." Daily Kos. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 64 Dewan, Shaila. "Public Places, Private Emotions." Houston Press. N.p., 02 Apr. 2016. Web. 07 Mar. 65 Lin, Maya. "Making the Memorial." The New York Review of Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 66 "The Vietnam Veterans Memorial." Daily Kos. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 67 Dewan, Shaila. "Public Places, Private Emotions." Houston Press. N.p., 02 Apr. 2016. Web. 07 Mar. 68 "Wall Information." Wall Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 69 "What+does+maya+lin's+vietnam+wall+look+like - Google Search." What+does+maya+lin's+vietnam+wall+look+like - Google Search. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 11

walls and landscaping were completed by November 1, 1982 and on November 11, 70 1984, all three units (the wall, the statue, and the flag) were combined. Her inspiring 71 vision has since become the most-visited memorial in the nation s capital and year 72 round her wall is the most popular piece. The wall feels like a church, reverent and peaceful. Whenever veterans visit the wall they say it s a wound that is closed and 73 healing. Now, because of Maya Lin, there are more expressive monuments all over the 74 United States. Maya Lin took a worthy stand by guarding the society s negative thoughts about tearing her wall down and focused on finishing what she began. After the dedication of her design, she was greatly recognized and known throughout the 75 world as the one who helped the nation heal. 76 Today there are about 10,000 people who visit the wall each day. This wall 77 has also helped many people heal from their lost ones in the war. When this memorial was created, the public finally began to accept and approve of the Vietnam 78 Veterans service. Today the wall is an emotional touchstone for everyone. 70 "The Vietnam Veterans Memorial." Daily Kos. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 71 "Maya Lin." Academy of Achievement. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 72 73 Ezell, Edward Clinton, and James H. Wallace. Reflections on the Wall: The Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole, 1987. Web. 74 "The Vietnam Veterans Memorial." Daily Kos. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 75 "Maya Lin Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom." Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund News. N.p., 22 Nov. 2016. Web. 07 Mar. 76 "Maya Lin." Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, 18 Nov. 2016. Web. 07 Mar. 77 "Maya Lin Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom." Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund News. N.p., 22 Nov. 2016. Web. 07 Mar. 78 Jluciew@pennlive.com, John Luciew. "Memorial Day and Every Day: Vietnam Veterans' Bitterness, Sadness Flow at The Wall." PennLive.com. N.p., 29 May 2016. Web. 08 Mar. 12

Now because of Maya Lin there are more expressive monuments all over the United States. It's also influenced later designs like the 9/11 Memorial, which also 79 features the names of the dead etched into black stone. This monument also helps 80 others grieve for their lost ones in the attack. Now thanks to Maya Lin, America will always be able to respond and remember to the great deal of lives lost in the Vietnam war. 81 Primary : "The Vietnam Veterans Memorial." Daily Kos. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. This site was interesting to me because it told me what others thought about the idea of the design. Lin, Maya. "Making the Memorial." The New York Review of Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. This article was one of the first articles Maya Lin wrote. It goes step by step in the process, and the whole process goes through her vision. JOHN WHEELER John Wheeler. "Perot's War Against the Vets' 'Wall' : Monumental Battle: His Tactics in Fighting the Original Design Reveal Much about the Man Who Would Be President." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 03 June 1992. Web. 27 Feb. I loved this article because it told me what most vets hated about the wall being built and especially what one man who had experience in the army, thought. I also got a better view of why so many people were against the wall s making. PBS. Public Broadcasting Service, n.d. Web. 01 Mar. This site tells me that others wanted to change the wall to white and how much they despised the color black on the wall. "Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision (1994)." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 79 "About World Trade Center." About World Trade Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Mar. 80 "The "Black Gash of Shame": Revisiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Controversy." Art21. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 81 "A Conversation with Maya Lin." BillMoyers.com. N.p., 25 Apr. 2003. Web. 08 Mar. 13

This movie gave me the event in action and gave me a better understanding of how angry the vets actually were. "Vietnam Veterans Memorial." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. N.p., 02 June 2016. Web. 01 Mar. This is the second site I have been to that has been written by Maya Lin and in her bibliography she told me what her wall should be like and she described why. Vespa, Mary, and Pat Gallagher. "His Dream Was to Heal a Nation with the Vietnam Memorial, but Jan Scruggs s Healing Isn t Over Yet Vol. 29 No. 21." PEOPLE.com. Time Inc, 30 May 1988. Web. 01 Mar. This was very interesting because this article was explaining what Jan Scruggs was thinking when he got the idea. Carhart, Tom. "INSULTING VIETNAM VETS." The New York Times. The New York Times, 23 Oct. 1981. Web. 04 Mar. This told me who was Tom Carhart and why he joined the Vietnam memorial as a volunteer. Dewan, Shaila. "Public Places, Private Emotions." Houston Press. N.p., 02 Apr. 2016. Web. 05 Mar. This told me who Maya Lin is and what she likes. "Carried to the Wall: American Memory and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial." Choice Reviews Online 36.05 (1999): n. pag. Web. This told me that others thought this site would be the next Vietnam war. Ezell, Edward Clinton, and James H. Wallace. Reflections on the Wall: The Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole, 1987. Web. This site told me that other citizens thought about the wall after it s making. Secondary https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ross_perot This website told me that Perot was in the navy, so it made me understand why he cared so much for the Vietnam war. I now know Perot had some back ground in wars. http://www.vvmf.org/jan-scruggs This article told me who Jan Scruggs was and why he decided to launch a contest for the wall. Denise Kersten Wills on November 1, 2007. "The Vietnam Memorial's History."Washingtonian. N.p., 01 Nov. 2007. Web. 27 Feb. 14

In my paper I got many facts about this and my favorite facts is all the things vets did or say to try and run Maya Lin s memorial away. How the wall changed America. "Presidential Lectures: Maya Lin." Presidential Lectures: Maya Lin. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. This is the first site that I looked at that told me what others said about the wall. "Maya Lin." Academy of Achievement. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. This website gave me a clear image of Maya Lin s wall. "Here's How a Controversial Work of Art Healed America after Vietnam." Public Radio International. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Mar. This video was super helpful by telling me after the wall was built how others felt about it. "Wall Information." Wall Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. This told me clearly when the wall was built and when the construction finished. "Maya Lin." Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, 18 Nov. 2016. Web. 28 Feb. This is the website that told me what Maya Lin s vision for her wall was. Gonzalez-Romero, Eileen. "Vietnam Memorial." Prezi.com. N.p., 18 May 2015. Web. 01 Mar. This slide gave me a understanding of the true recognition Maya Lin was aiming for by designing her wall. Inskeep, Steve. "Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Founder: Monument Almost Never Got Built." NPR. NPR, 30 Apr. 2015. Web. 01 Mar. This was the first sight I read that told me after the wall was constructed the controversy halted to a stop and afterwards everybody loved the wall. "About the Memorial." National September 11 Memorial & Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Mar. This showed me that way more memorials are inspired by Maya Lin. Spector, Ronald H. "Vietnam War." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 28 Oct. 2016. Web. 01 Mar. This site was the first site I went to to learn United States forces entered the con ict in support of the French in order to ght communism. When the French left, the Americans fought the war alone. Bai, Stephany. "'Speechless': Vietnam Veterans Memorial Architect Maya Lin to Receive Medal of Freedom." NBCNews.com. NBCUniversal News Group, 22 Nov. 2016. Web. 01 Mar. This site gave me full proof that Maya Lin has been nationally known because she has been presented a medal by the President of the United States. Joszt, Laura. "Most Visited U.S. Monuments." MD Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Mar. This told me that the Vietnam Memorial is the 2nd most visited monuments in the U.S. 15

The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Maya Lin." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 23 Nov. 2016. Web. 01 Mar. This told me how many women and men served and died and how many names were inscribed on the wall. Public Art Dialogue. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Mar. This was interesting to me because it told me how others thought of the wall as another Vietnam. "Coming Home: Vietnam Veterans in American Society." Vietnam War Reference Library. Encyclopedia.com, n.d. Web. 01 Mar. This site told me what others thought about the Vietnam veterans and how they were treated returning home from war. Suicide of Vietnam Veterans." Suicide of Vietnam Veterans :: Vietnam War Essays. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Mar. This told me the rate of deaths by Vietnam veterans and why they killed themselves "Jan Scruggs." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Feb. Web. 01 Mar. This is the whole process with Jan Scruggs instead of Maya Lin. UpClosed. "Jan Scruggs Lawyer Biography." UpClosed. UpClosed, n.d. Web. 02 Mar. This website told me that some people supported the design. History.com Staff. "Vietnam War History." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 02 Mar. This theory told me all about how deadly the Vietnam war actually was. "How Were the Vietnam Veterans Treated after the War?" Reference. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. This told me how many vets were to depressed after the war and how they killed themselves. "Maya Lin." Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Mar. This told me that Jan Scruggs also had little interest in Maya Lin s design,this surprised me. Inskeep, Steve. "Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Founder: Monument Almost Never Got Built." NPR. NPR, 30 Apr. 2015. Web. 03 Mar. I learned how the wall was almost never built, but when it finally was built everyone loved it. Jacobs, Tom. "The Healing Power of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial." Pacific Standard. Pacific Standard, 23 Apr. 2010. Web. 04 Mar. Others explain why the wall is a wound that is closed and healing. Cellania, Miss, AX2USN, Foreigner1, Jdch, Edward 1, and Justin 4. "Building the Wall." Neatorama. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Mar. 16

This told me that opponents attacked every aspect of the design. "Tom Carhart, Author (Biography)." Tom Carhart, Author (Biography). N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Mar. This site also told me why he joined the Vietnam memorial as a volunteer. "The "Black Gash of Shame": Revisiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Controversy." Art21. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Mar. This told me Tom Carhart s famous quote, and other monuments constructed because of Maya Lin s memorial. "Ross Perot." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 01 Mar. Web. 04 Mar. This told me the mean things Perot said about Maya Lin. "4 Facts About Vietnam Veterans Memorial Controversial History." Newsmax. N.p., 02 July 2015. Web. 06 Mar. This told me that her memorial is the most visited war memorial in washington D.C. "Vietnam War." American History USA. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Mar. This told me what the U.s government was doing to stop the Vietnam government know as the Viet Cong to stop communism. "The Memorial That No One Wanted Built except the Veterans." The Memorial That No One Wanted Built except the Veterans. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Mar. This told me that most veterans acted like this was the third battle for them. "A Conversation with Maya Lin." BillMoyers.com. N.p., 25 Apr. 2003. Web. 08 Mar. This is a great site for knowing how others respond to the Vietnam memorial and how they can remember their lost ones. 17