Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Inside the first pages of the Design Program.

Description of the Memorial site, vegetation, sub-soil conditions, topography, and other details of the area.

Details of how visitors would view the Memorial on foot.

Left side describes the outside noise of the Mall, and details other places and memorials to visit.

Right side provides aerial views of the proposed location.

Different views from inside the Vietnam Veterans Memorial site, in varying seasons.

Varied views looking towards the Vietnam Veterans Memorial site.

Requirements of the Memorial design, and what is required in the Memorial.

How to ship design entries, and how to identify competitors.

Back pages of the Design Program.

Pamphlet to help raise funds for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The Memorial was created with all private donations, no government funds.

Inside the pamphlet, which details the purpose behind the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

The underline was made by a White House official, which gives a glimpse into what the White House found most important about the announcement.

These concept images of the winning design were released to the public after the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation announced the winner.

Backside of the concept image booklet.

The pamphlet announced the winner of the design competition. It also lists the runners-up and the honorable mentions.

James Webb resigned from the VVMF after disagreeing with the design of the Memorial, as well as the selection process.

Members of the House of Representatives sent an additional letter to the White House expressing their disdain for the proposed design of the Memorial.

Signatures of different members of the House of Representatives, who were against the design of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Letter from the American Legion professing support for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

The American Legion argued that controversy for the design did not come about until 1982. As previously seen, disparaging letters came immediately following the public announcement of the design.

Letter from the President in support of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Summary of how the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was created.

Continued summary of the creation and groundbreaking.

Future necessary construction and maintenance of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Continuation of the future construction and maintenance needed.

The problem of adding additional names to the Memorial is addressed at the bottom.

Continuation of the process of adding additional names to the Memorial.

The rest of the page goes into how the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund received its private funding.

Details of how the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund spent its private funding.

Itemized description of the future construction and maintenance needed for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

List of the Members of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Committee.

Top of the page goes into the audit by the IRS on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.

Bottom of the page gives special recognition to veteran organizations in helping to raise the necessary funds.

Continuation of the special thanks to certain groups and people who helped raise significant funds for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Beginning of the final conclusion made by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.

"The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is already one of the most popular attractions in Washington; drawing up to fifteen thousand visitors daily. Only the National Air and Space Museum and the Lincoln Memorial attract more visitors."

President Reagan giving his speech at the Memorandum of Conveyance ceremony for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

The details of all the conditions needed by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund to complete the transfer of the rights to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial from the VVMF to the USDI.

"The design of the Memorial, like the war whose American soldiers it memorializes, has been controversial from the outset."

"Despite the early controversy of its design, the Memorial has succeeded in attracting the public far beyond anyone's original expectations."

Beginning of the itemized conditions the USDI needed to follow to maintain the Memorial.

Continuation of the conditions.

The bottom half of the page is where the respective signatures for each dignitary belong to transfer the rights of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

First page of President Reagan's speech at the Memorandum of Conveyance. The pages are marked up by President Reagan so he knew when to have a line break. The speech was written by Peggy Noonan.