Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial |
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| United States | |
| For all 648 Vietnam War servicemen from Philadelphia | |
| Established | 1987 |
| Location | 39°56′38″N 75°08′34″W / 39.943910°N 75.142825°W Spruce and Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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| Designed by | Perry M. Morgan |
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The Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial is designed to honor those who served in all branches of the United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam War. The memorial pays tribute to the 80,000 Philadelphia Vietnam Era Veterans who served our country in our nation's longest war. By honoring these veterans the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial separates the warrior from the war, focuses on the valor and sacrifice of those patriots, and gives each of them a place in history. It is our duty to remember the gallant Americans whose names grace this wall. They sacrificed their lives in the service of our country during the Vietnam War 1964-1975. For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.
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The Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a special place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is located at Penn's Landing. This memorial was built in 1987 to remember brave Americans.
It honors 648 service members from Philadelphia. These heroes either died during the Vietnam War or were missing. They gave their lives serving our country.
The memorial looks like an outdoor theater. It has a big open space called a plaza. The names of each soldier are carved into a granite wall. There are also ten large panels. These panels show different moments from the Vietnam War. They tell the story from the start of the war. They also show the rescue of Vietnamese people in 1975.
Special events are held here often. These programs help us remember the lives lost during the war. The Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund helps take care of the memorial. They also teach people about the war.
History of the Memorial
How the Design Was Chosen
The memorial's design was created by Perry M. Morgan. He was a local architect. His design was picked from 102 ideas. These ideas came from a national contest. When it first opened, the memorial had 630 names.
Updates and Rededication
In 2015, the memorial was rededicated. This means it was honored again. It had been restored and redesigned for seven years. The changes made it easier for people with disabilities to visit.
In 2016, two more soldiers' names were added. This brought the total number of names to 648.
