Yes, names are still added to the Vietnam Wall. New names are added when individuals meet the eligibility criteria for the memorial, which includes having their death attributed directly or indirectly to their service during the Vietnam War.
Yes, names are still added to the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, commonly referred to as the Vietnam Wall, is a poignant and powerful tribute to the men and women who served and sacrificed their lives during the Vietnam War. It serves as a solemn reminder of the tremendous human cost of the conflict.
New names are added to the wall when individuals meet specific eligibility criteria for the memorial. According to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, the organization responsible for the wall’s maintenance, names are added when the death of an individual is attributed directly or indirectly to their military service during the Vietnam War. This means that even decades after the war ended, new names continue to be engraved onto the black granite panels of the memorial.
A famous quote by President Ronald Reagan perfectly encapsulates the enduring significance and purpose of the Vietnam Wall: “The Wall reminds us to remember American heroes not just from Vietnam, but from all our wars. As a grateful nation, we must show our gratitude by preserving the memorials we’ve erected and by protecting the freedoms that our veterans have defended.”
Here are some interesting facts about the Vietnam Wall:
- The Vietnam Wall was designed by Maya Lin, a 21-year-old student at Yale University, who won a national design competition.
- The memorial was dedicated on November 13, 1982, and has become one of the most visited memorials in the United States.
- It consists of two long, black granite walls that meet in a V-shape, listing the names of over 58,000 American servicemen and women who lost their lives during the war.
- The names are arranged in chronological order, based on the date of casualty.
- The memorial is intentionally reflective, allowing visitors to see themselves and the surrounding world while paying tribute to the fallen.
To provide an organized and detailed overview of the names on the wall, here is a simple table showcasing the distribution of casualty counts by branch of service:
| Branch of Service | Number of Names |
|---|---|
| Army | 38,218 |
| Marine Corps | 14,844 |
| Navy | 2,556 |
| Air Force | 2,580 |
| Coast Guard | 7 |
| Unknown | 4 |
The Vietnam Wall serves as a powerful memorial, allowing individuals to remember and honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of their country. With new names being added as eligibility criteria are met, it ensures that their sacrifices and contributions are never forgotten.
Other responses to your question
As for the status changes, the names are still recorded on The Wall. For those who’ve never seen The Wall in person, each name is also accompanied by a symbol. A diamond means the person was declared dead.
As for the status changes, the names are still recorded on The Wall.
The names of ten American servicemen have been added to the black granite walls of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the status designations will be changed for 12 others whose names are already on The Wall.
This year, there were two additions to The Wall, bringing the total number of names on The Wall to 58,281. There were also two service members who were repatriated in 2020 and those service members had their status symbols changed on The Wall. The number of Americans still listed as missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War stands at 1,584.
More names are added to the wall every year. The ceremony is held on Mother’s Day and the additions might be as simple as rectifying a clerical error or as heartbreaking as a veteran dying, all these years later, from a wound suffered during the war. This year, 14 names were etched into the wall.
This year, there were three additions to The Wall, bringing the total number of names on The Wall to 58,279. There were also three service members who were repatriated in 2019 and those service members had their status symbols changed on The Wall.
There are 58,267 names now listed on Vietnam Wall, including those added in 2010.
As of 2017, there are 58,318 names inscribed on The Wall. The first group, added in 1983, included 53 Marines who were killed when their R&R (rest and relaxation) flight crashed in Hong Kong.
Video response to “Are names still added to the Vietnam Wall?”
In the YouTube video, a person shares their personal connection to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall and their uncle Captain William Taylor, who survived the war. They explain how they have applied a stencil with their uncle’s name on the wall, measuring the depth to match surrounding names. The speaker expresses awe and wonder at the magical process of adding names to the wall. They also highlight their uncle’s contributions as a retired ROTC member and how he positively impacted the lives of young men. Although their uncle has passed away, his legacy lives on through the memories of those he mentored and the inspiration he gave them to be good soldiers, good men, and great Americans.
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Do they add names to the Vietnam memorial wall?
Response to this: The Department of Defense sets the criteria for and makes decisions about whose names are eligible for inscription on The Wall. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund pays for the name additions and status changes, and works with the National Park Service to ensure long-term preservation and maintenance of The Wall.
Are all Vietnam veterans names on the wall?
As a response to this: The names of over 58,000 servicemembers who gave their lives between 1957 and 1975 are listed on the wall in chronological order starting and ending at the center of the wall.
How many names are currently on the Vietnam wall?
The reply will be: 58,000 names
The two 200-feet-long walls contain more than 58,000 names. The names are listed in chronological order by date of their casualty and begin and end at the origin point, or center, of the memorial where the two walls meet. Having the names begin and end at the center is meant to form a circle – a completion to the war.
How do you find out if someone’s name is on the Vietnam wall?
In reply to that: The Vietnam Veterans Memorial announced in August that it now has a photo for each of the 58,281 names on The Wall in Washington, D.C. Visitors to www.vvmf.org/wall-of-faces can put a face with a name and read about each of the men and women who were killed during the Vietnam War.
Can I Have my Name on a Vietnam Memorial Wall?
Answer: …died within 120 days of wounds, physical injuries, or illnesses incurred or diagnosed in the defined combat zone of Vietnam.. Currently, victims of Agent Orange and PTSD-related suicide are not eligible to have their name inscribed on the memorial wall. You can request to have a name added at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund website.
How many names have been added to the wall?
The answer is: A service member who died in 1956 was added after The Wall was dedicated – and names have actually been added on multiple occasions. When The Wall was completed in 1982, it contained 57,939 names. As of Memorial Day 2017, there were 58,318 names, including eight women.
What is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall?
As a response to this: Known simply as “The Wall” to the men and women who can find the name of a loved one inscribed on it, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall lists the names of those who fell during the Vietnam War. The names are arranged first by date, and then alphabetically.
How do I add a name to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund?
The reply will be: You can request to have a name added at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund website. 10 more names were added to The Wall in 2012 and the statuses of 12 others were changed. The 10 servicemen came from the Marine Corps, Navy, Army, and Air Force, and died between 1966 and 2011.
Can I Have my Name on a Vietnam Memorial Wall?
…died within 120 days of wounds, physical injuries, or illnesses incurred or diagnosed in the defined combat zone of Vietnam.. Currently, victims of Agent Orange and PTSD-related suicide are not eligible to have their name inscribed on the memorial wall. You can request to have a name added at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund website.
How many names have been added to the wall?
The response is: A service member who died in 1956 was added after The Wall was dedicated – and names have actually been added on multiple occasions. When The Wall was completed in 1982, it contained 57,939 names. As of Memorial Day 2017, there were 58,318 names, including eight women.
What is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall?
Answer to this: Known simply as “The Wall” to the men and women who can find the name of a loved one inscribed on it, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall lists the names of those who fell during the Vietnam War. The names are arranged first by date, and then alphabetically.
How do I add a name to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund?
As an answer to this: You can request to have a name added at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund website. 10 more names were added to The Wall in 2012 and the statuses of 12 others were changed. The 10 servicemen came from the Marine Corps, Navy, Army, and Air Force, and died between 1966 and 2011.