MEMORIALIZATION TO PRESERVATION: EFFORTS TO COMMEMORATE THE VIETNAM ERA FROM THE 1980S TO THE PRESENT

Abstract

The American public is still attempting to cope with the consequences of fully engaging in the Vietnam War. The public often welcomed these veterans home with unfavorable and hostile receptions, and it would take the United States nearly ten years after the withdrawal of troops before a national tribute would be offered to those who served. As the national Vietnam Veterans Memorial developed between 1979 and 1982, the American public again voiced their support and opposition for the war in an effort to shape the memorial’s design and interpretive messages. Following its aftermath, throughout the 1980s, the United States would see similar debates surrounding the construction of Vietnam War memorials in local communities. Very few museums provide a cohesive social and military interpretation of the war. By examining the influences and public input into the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Vietnam War Foundation and Museum, examples of how to incorporate the complex and competing interpretations of the Vietnam War era can be explored.