Designed by Yale student Maya Ying Lin, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was built to honor the memory of those who served in the Vietnam War. Over 58,000 names are etched in the black granite Memorial whose walls point towards the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial.

The design was approved in the Spring of 1982, and the completed Memorial was unveiled in the Fall of 1984. Due to its unusual design, compared to the classical style of the rest of Washington's memorials, a second sculpture of three men with a flag was added to the site. Recently, an additional sculpture honoring female veterans was placed near the Memorial as well.