Oregon Vietnam Veterans Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oregon Vietnam Veterans Memorial |
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| Oregon | |
Vietnam Memorial Sign
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| For Vietnam War | |
| Established | 1987 |
| Location | 45°30′43″N 122°43′07″W / 45.5120°N 122.71857°W near Portland, Oregon, USA
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The Oregon Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a special outdoor place in Portland, Oregon. It covers about 8 acres (3.2 hectares) in Washington Park. This memorial honors people from Oregon who served in the Vietnam War. It was officially opened in 1987. The idea for it came in 1982. Five veterans and the parents of a Marine who died in Vietnam visited the national memorial. They wanted a similar place in Oregon. A design company called Walker Macy created the memorial. Most of the building work and materials were given by volunteers.
Contents
Exploring the Memorial's Design
This memorial is easy to visit for everyone, including those in wheelchairs. It has a long, winding path, about 1,200 feet (366 meters) long. This path goes through a beautiful, calm area. You will see green lawns, colorful flowers, and low hedges. Tall trees stand all around, making it a peaceful spot.
Honoring Those Who Served
Along the spiral path, you will find special monuments. These monuments list the names of Oregon soldiers. They remember those who died or went missing during the Vietnam War. Each monument focuses on a specific year of the war. They also share short stories about what happened during that time. This helps visitors understand how the war changed over the years. It shows how it slowly grew, became very intense, and then ended.
Location and Nearby Attractions
The memorial is located inside the Hoyt Arboretum. This is a large park with many different trees. It is also very close to the World Forestry Center and the Oregon Zoo. You can find many trails nearby that connect to Forest Park. The memorial is also near the famous International Rose Test Garden and the Portland Japanese Garden.
Getting There
It is easy to reach the memorial. You can get there by car using U.S. Route 26. You can also use Portland's MAX light rail system. The MAX has a station right in Washington Park.
Gallery
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Entrance to the memorial
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The peaceful Garden of Solace
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Amphitheater and the first memorial section
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A monument showing events from 1959 through 1964
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Amphitheater and the last memorial section
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An overview of the memorial from above
