We left the Lincoln Memorial and veered left to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

When the memorial was first installed, it consisted solely of the wall, and it is this part of the memorial that draws the most people and, in my opinion, has the most emotional impact. From Wikipedia:

The memorial currently consists of three separate parts: the Three Soldiers statue, the Vietnam Women’s Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, which is the best-known part of the memorial.

The Three Soldiers

The Memorial Wall

It isn’t just the names listed that provides the impact, but the reflection of the observers seen in the polished gabbro.

From the beginning people began to take rubbings of names on the wall.  So many continue to do so that papers and pencil  are now provided.

Another making a rubbing of a name on the wall.

Was it his brother?  A sister? A cousin?  A friend?

To me, this is one of the most moving memorials on the National Mall.

The Vietnam Women’s Memorial.

I had to shoot these very tight as it was surrounded by the aforementioned middle school kids. Their hot pink shirts are actually reflected in parts of the sculpture. (You can see a wide-angle shot of the memorial at this link  – not my photo).

After the Vietnam Memorial, we moved on to the World War II Memorial.  As understated as the Vietnam Memorial is, the WWII memorial reflects the size and scope of the war.  There are two massive towers on either side, each representing the two theaters of the war (Atlantic and Pacific). Each smaller column with wreath represents each state and U.S. territory and others that sent men and women to war in the name of the United States.

A remembrance of the women at home who marched into the factories. My grandmother was one of them.