The Vietnam Veterans Memorial has not only proven its innate power to connect the soul of the living with the souls of the dead, but it also reflects the changes those have fought for over the years. In the beginning, when the idea of having a memorial was suggested by Jan Shurggs, a Vietnam Veteran and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, many were opposed to it. Eventually, the members of the VVMF agreed to the idea, but much skepticism and uncertainty still remained. The memorial could do many things for the veterans, both positive and negative, but it would all depend on how it was built.
             In 1980, the VVMF decided the best way to go about finding the perfect memorial would be to hold a competition. Bob Doubek, veteran and co-founder of the VVMF, gave purpose to the design competition: "The hope is that the creation of the memorial will begin a healing process." This was going to be a challenge and the VVMF knew it. Over 1000 designs were submitted, and after much debate, a very simple design was chosen. The creator was a 21-year-old undergraduate from Yale University named Maya.Lin. Lin's design, though simple and vague, met all of the stipulated requirements: "The names of the 57,939 Americans who died or are missing in Vietnam had to be engraved on the memorial, and contestants were required to be sensitive to the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, which bracket the site".
             Maya Lin's design was very unique and controversial. It envokes contemplation rather than declaring its meaning. The Structure is a V-shaped polished granite slab that unlike other monuments has no message of honor or patriotism. Those subjects are left to the thoughts of the beholder. There are no winners, no losers, just the names of those lost in the name of war. The names are listed in chronological order starting with 1959. Lin specifically choose to have it this way so one, while looking at the wall, could travel with the nam...