The Oregon Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial is the artifact I have chosen for my rhetorical analysis essay in comparison to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington D.C.

This memorial pictured above and below was inspired by the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. A group of veterans from Oregon fundraised and worked hard for it to be completed in 1987. It was designed by Walker Macy. The design of the wall is somewhat like the more famous one in Washington D.C., but there are a lot of differences. It is a much smaller black granite wall, and it has a list of names of the Oregon residents who died in Vietnam, and of those who are still missing. This memorial provides history of the war, and events about the war in Oregon.

The location of this memorial is in a peaceful area, as it is located in an arboretum, in Washington Park, that sets a scene for reflection. This very peaceful location also is very symbolic. There are pear trees at the entrance that symbolizes life and sacredness. The water elements in the park, such as a fountain, symbolizes life, purity, and hope.
 The memorial in Washington D.C. is a plain, black, reflective wall, with a reflective surface that stretches out into the east and west. The simplicity allows the visitor to reflect easily on the Vietnam War, and to honor and remember the soldiers who fought. Sometimes “less is more”.

Both of these memorials create a strong message. They engage us to honor the soldiers, by being able to reflect easily due to both of their simplistic designs. The names on both of the walls remind us not to repeat history that involves violence and war.

Although these two memorials share similar qualities, the memorial I chose to analyze in my essay, The Oregon Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial, is appropriate for in-depth analysis. This memorial is much smaller, and more special to it’s local area. Since the names on the memorial is just of soldiers who fought from Oregon, it creates a sense of importance to the Oregonian visitors. It creates a sense of urgency to the citizens of Oregon that the Vietnam War effected them too, and it gives them a greater need to honor them.

The added symbolism that this memorial has, such as the trees and water, creates the memorial to be more of a peaceful sanctuary to honor the soldiers. The proximity of this memorial also allows Oregon citizens, or anyone close by the west-coast area to visit the memorial to honor the soldiers, without traveling all the way to Washington D.C.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. and the The Oregon Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial are very different, yet alike. It is interesting to me that the memorial in Oregon is much smaller, but it still has the same effect as the one in Washington D.C. This proves that the size of an artifact does not matter in civic engagement. Both of these memorials have the same effect to reflect and honor those who have served. They motivate our country to gain more knowledge about that war, to honor those veterans every day, and to always try to create a positive impact on our society.