The Vietnam War and Its Impact

The Vietnam War was more divisive than any conflict in U.S. history. Between 1958 and 1975, more than 58,000 young Americans lost their lives in Southeast Asia. Because the war was unpopular at home, the American servicemen who returned home were often shunned or rejected.

To heal these divisions, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was constructed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The aim of "the Wall," as the memorial is sometimes called, was to recognize the service all who served in Vietnam. Dedicated in 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is among the most-visited monuments in the capital, and a powerful reminder of the sacrifices that a generation of Americans made for their country.