Vietnam Women’s Memorial
“The emphasis of this tribute is centered on their emotions — their compassion, their anxiety, their fatigue, and above all, their dedication.” - Glenna Goodacre, sculptor of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial
Dedicated on Veteran’s Day in 1993, the bronze sculpture is a tribute to the 265,000 women who served during the Vietnam era.
The memorial was the first monument to American military women on the National Mall. The multi-figure bronze monument was designed by New Mexico sculptor, Glenna Goodacre* and portrays three Vietnam-era women, one of whom is caring for a wounded male soldier. The memorial stands 6'8" tall and weighs one ton.
During the Vietnam War, women served in many different roles. Many women served as nurses and physicians while others acted as air traffic controllers, communication specialists, and intelligence officers. The Vietnam Women’s Memorial was established to honor the women who risked their lives to serve their country. The names of the women who died in Vietnam are included on the list of over 58,000 names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
*Glenna Goodacre, the artist who created the Vietnam Women’s Memorial in Washington, honoring thousands of female veterans with the Mall’s first monument to American military women, died April 13 at her home in Santa Fe, N.M. She was 80. Read more about her life and career HERE.
Learn more about the Vietnam Women’s Memorial by visiting the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation.