What do the symbols mean on the Vietnam Wall?
James Craig
Updated on June 04, 2026
Keeping this in consideration, what do the symbols mean on the Vietnam Memorial wall?
Each name is preceded (on the West Wall) or followed (on the East Wall) by a symbol designating status. The diamond symbol denotes that the service member's death was confirmed; the cross symbol denotes the person was missing at the end of the war and remains missing and unaccounted for.
Furthermore, are MIA Names on Vietnam Wall? With the addition of six names added in 2010 the total is now 58,272 names listed on the Memorial. Approximately 1200 of these are listed as missing (MIA's, POW's, and others).
Similarly, how are the names arranged on the Vietnam Wall?
The names are arranged chronologically by date of casualty. The first names appear at the center of the wall at the top of panel 1E. The panels are filled like pages of a journal listing the men and women's names as they fell.
What are the names of the two statues at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial?
The memorial consists of three separate parts: The Three Soldiers statue, the Vietnam Women's Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, also known as The Wall That Heals, which is the most popular feature.
Related Question Answers
What does the W mean on the Vietnam Wall?
The inscription reads “In memory of the men and women who served in the Vietnam War and later died as a result of their service. Since 1999, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund has held an In Memory Day ceremony each year to honor all those who died as a result of the war.What is the Vietnam wall made of?
granite wallsHow many names are on the Vietnam Wall 2020?
58,279 namesWhat was Vietnam War about?
The Vietnam War was a long, costly and divisive conflict that pitted the communist government of North Vietnam against South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States. The conflict was intensified by the ongoing Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union.Where is the Vietnam Wall located?
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for all who wish to visit. It is located north of the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.Why is the Vietnam Memorial underground?
Building a Visitor and Education CenterCongress has authorized the construction of a Vietnam Memorial Visitors Center on the National Mall in Washington, DC. To keep the building from overshadowing the Vietnam Wall or other nearby memorials, it will be built underground.
Who designed the Vietnam Wall?
Cooper-Lecky PartnershipWhen was the Vietnam War?
November 1, 1955 – April 30, 1975Are the names on the Vietnam Wall in alphabetical order?
Although the names are not listed alphabetically, it is not difficult for visitors to find a name on the Memorial. The National Park Service offers these steps for locating a name: Look up the name in the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Directory of Names.How many female soldiers died in the Vietnam War?
Among the roughly 11,000 American women stationed in Vietnam, Lane was the only one killed by hostile fire during the decadeslong war. Seven other women died in accidents and illnesses.What is the last name on the Vietnam Wall?
The names of Army Master Sergeant Chester Ovnand and Major Dale Buis are inscribed on Panel 1E of the Vietnam War Memorial Wall.How many traveling Vietnam Wall are there?
A: There are two replica versions of The Vietnam Veterans Memorial that tour the United States regularly. The first of them which is called The Moving Wall, has been traveling the country for almost twenty years.What was the deadliest year in the Vietnam War?
1968What happens to things left at the Vietnam Memorial Wall?
Items left at the Memorial are deemed to be the property of the National Park Service when voluntarily abandoned. Park staff may choose to save items for the museum collection or respectfully dispose of them.How do I find a name on the Vietnam War Memorial wall?
Ways to find a name on the Vietnam Memorial Wall:- Download “The Wall,” an extremely useful app created by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund to help visitors locate names.
- Find the location of a name online.
- Use the books on either end of the memorial walls.
- Ask a National Park Service Ranger!