ABC 7News - NPS to celebrate 30 years of Vietnam Women's Memorial with several weekend events

WASHINGTON (7News) — The National Park Service (NPS) will be holding a number of events from a candlelight ceremony to wreath-laying ceremonies for Veteran’s Day.

This year is also the 30th anniversary of the dedication of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial. On Friday, there will be a candlelight ceremony ahead of Saturday’s wreath-laying ceremonies.

“This was such an important addition to the National Mall,” said Mike Litterst, with the National Park Service. “It’s within sight of the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, within sight of the 3 servicemen statue, and really gives what was at that long overdue recognition to the women who serve.”

Glenna Goodacre is the sculptor. She said photos from Vietnam often included stacks of sandbags, which you can see at the base of the memorial.

She said it seemed natural for a nurse in a moment of crisis to be supported by them as she was treating a wounded soldier. The woman looking up is looking for a helicopter or maybe help from God. The kneeling figure is often called the heart and soul of this piece because so many vets see themselves in her, looking emotionally, into an empty helmet. Half of the soldier’s face is covered by a bandage.

Goodacre said this is her monument for the living.

“This memorial honors all of the women who served in the U.S. military during the Vietnam era, so certainly it commemorates the eight nurses that were killed in Vietnam and who are actually on the wall, but beyond that, it’s the 250,000 plus additional women who served in the military at that time,” said Litterst.

There will be events at nine sites for Veteran’s Day. For information on all the events, click here.