Often referred to as simply The Wall, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was a simplistic design created to acknowledge and recognize all who served and sacrificed their lives in the Vietnam War. Overshadowed by controversy and politics, designer Maya Lin choose a simple, but yet a striking theme in response to a national design competition that was first announced in October, 1980. Lin envisioned a mirror-like surface to reflect the surrounding trees, the National Mall lawn, Washington DC's monuments and each of the memorial's visitors.
   Born to parents who fled an oppressive regime of Mao Tse-tung, Maya Ying Lin's winning design was selected by a panel of eight internationally recognized artists and designers. An undergraduate at Yale University, Lin's design clearly met all the requirements of the competition. Lin went on to act as a consultant with the architectural firm who proceeded with construction of the memorial.
   In this early morning view, the 246 foot long East Wall seems to disappear in the distance as the photo directs your gaze toward the Washington Monument. Names on the black granite wall now total more than 58,000, including 1299 that are listed as missing. Listed in chronological order, the name of the first known casualty was Richard B. Fitzgibbon, who died June 8, 1956.

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