Monuments are built by artists in order to remind us of important moments in the history of humanity.In the case of "Always to Remember " it is a feeling which is meant to be remembered .This is the reason why the Memorial and the essay written about it are so heart- rending.
War is tough .The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is. Being part of a war fought far from home became something hard to tolerate for several Americans.They could not cope with the idea of violence towards innocents so when soldiers who had fought in Vietnam returned they were rejected by most of the American society.All the feelings, those of rejection, of love for one´s nation, or depression and frustration are shown in the monument as well as in the essay.
The long list of soldiers who lost their lives in a remote place ,all written on black stone ,moves every single soul in front of it as we see loss and resignation in the monument.Maya Lin expressed herself as a representative of those who were meant to be helped by all the armed forces who moved to Vietnam to fight so as to defend a land from the darkness of ideas so contrary to liberty.
The American flag , always so magnificently flapping in the wind , gives the memorial the support the soldiers need.A nation of peace makers might not understand a soldier.A nation with the spirit of a hero as the USA is , sympathises with the dead on a country that needed saving.
Frustration and anger are exposed also by the use of black walls involving the visitors of the Memorial.You feel trapped and covered by an emotion hard to describe; you sense something dark.The sensation may involve regret for being socruel to those who had fought that war, for dividing the country and for the lack of sympathy.
Finally, the sensitivity in the Memorial as well as in the essay is presented not just by the names on the monument or the words in the composition.Actually ,the most moving about both is the reason why they were created; suffering, grief and deprivation.
