From 2000: Mementos at the Wall
Summary
TLDRThe Vietnam Veterans Memorial, dedicated in 1982, has become a poignant site where visitors leave behind personal mementos, messages, and remembrances for the fallen. This heartfelt tradition has led to the accumulation of thousands of items, including photographs, letters, dog tags, medals, and even wedding rings. The National Park Service, recognizing the historical significance, sought help in cataloging this collection, which has grown to an impressive 64,000 items. The collection, stored primarily in Maryland, is also loaned out for exhibits, such as those at the Smithsonian's Museum of American History and the Jersey Explorer Children's Museum. The artifacts serve as a social history, curated by the public, reflecting the personal impact and stories behind each item. The collection continues to grow, with each addition contributing to the memorial's narrative and the ongoing remembrance of those who served.
Takeaways
- 📜 The Vietnam Veterans Memorial has a profound impact on Americans, inspiring a tradition where visitors leave behind mementos, messages, and remembrances.
- 🧩 A Park Ranger collects these items daily, leading to a collection that has grown significantly since the memorial's dedication in 1982.
- 🎗️ The National Park Service recognized the collection as historic, containing items like dog tags, medals, wedding rings, photographs, and letters.
- 📚 By 1989, the collection required cataloging assistance, and a volunteer, Felton, became the curator of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Collection.
- 👟 The collection includes a wide range of items, such as Ho Chi Minh sandals, trifold flags, and even shell cases, each with its own story.
- 🏆 Felton, a Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient, sometimes can piece together the stories behind the items, like an essay left by an art teacher's former student.
- 💌 Many of the offerings left at the memorial are anonymous, but Felton occasionally uncovers personal stories, adding depth to the collection.
- 🚫 The collection is uncensored, intense, and can be overwhelming, reflecting the raw emotions associated with the Vietnam War.
- 📈 The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Collection has grown to an astonishing size of about 64,000 objects, most stored in Landover, Maryland.
- 🏛 The National Park Service loans out exhibits from the collection, such as one at the Smithsonian's Museum of American History and another at the Jersey Explorer Children's Museum.
- 📚 The collection serves as a social history, curated by the public, who leave items that they feel are important and that convey their sentiments and memories.
Q & A
When was the Vietnam Veterans Memorial dedicated?
-The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in 1982.
What remarkable tradition arose from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial?
-A remarkable tradition arose where everyday visitors to the wall leave behind mementos, messages, and remembrances.
Who is Anthony Miglia and what was his role?
-Anthony Miglia was the head of the cleanup crew when the memorial was dedicated.
What types of items did Anthony Miglia recall from the early days of the memorial?
-Anthony Miglia recalled photographs of men in uniform, teddy bears, and letters from mothers and girlfriends.
What was the National Park Service's decision regarding the collection of items left at the memorial?
-The National Park Service decided it had a historic collection and needed help cataloging the growing inventory.
Who volunteered to help the National Park Service and what is his current role?
-Floyd Johnson volunteered to help and is currently the curator of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Collection.
What are some of the items included in the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Collection?
-The collection includes dog tags, medals, wedding rings, photographs, letters, and various other personal items.
What is the significance of the items left at the memorial?
-The items left at the memorial are significant as they represent personal connections, memories, and tributes to the veterans.
What does Felton, the curator, sometimes struggle with regarding the items left?
-Felton sometimes struggles with the significance of certain items, as some of the offerings and their meanings can be a mystery.
How has the collection grown over time?
-By 1989, the collection had grown to thousands of articles, and by the time of the script, it had grown to an astonishing size of about 64,000 objects.
Where is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Collection stored and exhibited?
-Most of the collection is stored in Landover, Maryland, but the National Park Service also loans out exhibits, such as those at the Smithsonian's Museum of American History and the Jersey Explorer Children's Museum.
What is the social significance of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Collection?
-The collection is a social history, curated by the public, representing the everyday person's perspective and connection to the Vietnam War and its veterans.
Outlines
📛 The Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Its Mementos
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, dedicated in 1982, has had a profound impact on Americans, leading to a unique tradition where visitors leave behind various mementos, messages, and remembrances at the wall. Anthony Miglia, who headed the cleanup crew, recounts the initial reluctance to dispose of these items, which included photographs, letters, and teddy bears. Over time, the National Park Service amassed thousands of articles, including dog tags, medals, wedding rings, and photographs, recognizing the collection's historical significance. By 1989, the Park Service sought assistance in cataloging the growing collection, which is now curated by a Vietnam veteran, Felton. The collection, consisting of about 64,000 objects, is stored in Maryland, with exhibits loaned out, including to the Smithsonian's Museum of American History and the Jersey Explorer Children's Museum. The collection is a social history, curated by the public, reflecting the personal impact and sentiments of those who visit the memorial.
🎗️ The Personal Impact and Curation of the Memorial Collection
The second paragraph delves into the personal impact of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial collection, which contains 64,000 items and continues to grow. The collection is described as a social history, curated by the public, with each item carrying a story and significance. The narrative highlights the emotional connection people have with the collection, as seen in the example of a letter written by a high school student to an unknown fallen soldier, inspired by a photograph at the memorial. The paragraph also mentions the efforts to keep the collection alive and relevant, with items such as combat boots and their attached campaign ribbons serving as poignant reminders of the soldiers' experiences. The public's role in curating the collection is emphasized, with individuals leaving items that hold personal importance, ensuring that the memories of those who served are not forgotten.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Vietnam Veterans Memorial
💡Mementos
💡Tradition
💡National Park Service
💡Curator
💡Remembrance
💡Ho Chi Minh Sandals
💡Cataloging
💡Anonymous Offerings
💡Social History
💡Personal Impact
Highlights
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial has profoundly touched the American people since its dedication in 1982.
A remarkable tradition was born where everyday visitors leave behind mementos, messages, and remembrances at the wall.
A Park Ranger carefully collects the daily remembrances left by visitors.
Anthony Miglia, who headed the cleanup crew, couldn't bring himself to dispose of the initial remembrances, leading to the National Park Service recognizing a historic collection.
The collection includes dog tags, medals, wedding rings, photographs, and letters, reflecting the personal nature of the war's impact.
By 1989, the Park Service needed help cataloging the growing inventory, which included trifold flags and other items.
Felton, a Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient, volunteered to become the curator of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Collection.
The collection contains hundreds of photographs, some of which Felton can piece together with stories.
Many of the offerings left at the memorial are anonymous, but Felton sometimes uncovers personal stories behind them.
An essay left by an art teacher at Glen Ridge High in New Jersey provides insight into the life of a 19-year-old helicopter pilot.
The collection has grown to an astonishing size of about 64,000 objects, most stored in Landover, Maryland.
The National Park Service loans out exhibits from the collection, including to the Smithsonian's Museum of American History and the Jersey Explorer Children's Museum.
Gary Pat nosh takes items from the collection into New Jersey schools, emphasizing their personal impact over traditional history lessons.
The collection is a social history, curated by the public, reflecting the importance and sentiments of everyday people.
The public's contributions to the collection, such as letters and personal items, continue to grow, making it an ever-evolving historical record.
The task of cataloging and understanding the 64,000 items in the collection may never be fully completed due to its vast and personal nature.
The collection includes poignant items like tropical combat boots with attached campaign ribbons and inscriptions, symbolizing the personal stories of soldiers.
Transcripts
from the day it was dedicated in 1982
the Vietnam Veterans Memorial touched
the American people profoundly so
profoundly that it gave rise to a
remarkable tradition everyday visitors
to the wall leave behind mementos
messages and remembrances
and every day a part Ranger carefully
collects those remembrances only to find
war left in their place it's very
touching phenomenons I'd never seen
anything like it before
Anthony Miglia CHEO headed the cleanup
crew when the memorial was dedicated I
recall photographs of men in uniform
I recall teddy bears recall letters from
mothers and girlfriends that type of
thing from the first date as far as what
to do with it goes I couldn't bring
myself to dispose of it soon there were
thousands of articles and the National
Park Service decided it had a historic
collection dog tags medals wedding rings
photographs and the letters mama says
I'm just like you
Stefan among other things I just found
out about you how could they hide you
from me for so long by 1989 the Park
Service needed help cataloging the
growing inventory
get a lot of trifold flags during
volunteered today he's the curator of
the Vietnam veterans memorial collection
the famous Ho Chi Minh sandals what the
GS call the Ho Chi Minh Santa
Floyd you get one free throw em elseis
they have crucifix and we have a prayer
as we have literally hundreds and
hundreds and hundreds of photographs
Felton is himself a Vietnam veteran and
Purple Heart recipients and these are
5.56 or m16 shell cases and although he
can identify many of the objects left at
the 1991 it's probably a grandson their
significance is sometimes a mystery
absent was a political statement I don't
know some people might think it's
disrespectful to leave cigarettes and
liquor at the Vietnam War it was a fact
of life you have to understand World War
2 Korea Vietnam they were part of the
sea rations most of the offerings are
anonymous but at times felton can piece
together stories
like the one behind an essay left at the
wall by Nancy an art teacher at
Glen Ridge high in New Jersey this is a
picture of Tom it was written by one of
her former students
Thomas bo9 as a 19 year old he enlisted
and was sent to Vietnam immediately was
trained as a helicopter pilot and that's
where his story began and ended in
Vietnam his essay is titled what do you
consider beauty there's even beauty and
death so peaceful and calm because death
is just another beginning I would think
if you look long enough and hard enough
you could find some beauty in everything
you have to learn to read but not read
because this collection is uncensored
and in many instances it is intense and
you will figuratively lose your mind
we've been doing everything through the
years this goes on for a block today the
Vietnam veterans memorial collection has
grown to an astonishing size about
64,000 objects most of them stored in
Landover Maryland but the National Park
Service also loans out exhibits there's
one at the Smithsonian's Museum of
American History
another at the Jersey Explorer
Children's Museum its cruddy belt who
would leave him
Gary Pat nosh takes the items into New
Jersey schools did you read it for me
please where he says they have more
personal impact than any history lesson
Cosman my father I love you you are my
inspiration and all I do meet me in
heaven
Rene next belt is black next bill is
black
Blake Scotland even wrote this letter to
a fallen soldier she didn't know after
seeing Walker Smith's picture there are
years you never got to experience people
you never got to meet and places you
never got to go from that one picture
I've learned something to live every day
to the fullest to the best of my ability
what a great gift life really is I'll
keep your picture in my mind making a
history of a collection that numbers
64,000 items and growing by the moment
oh gee 107 tropical combat boots is a
task that may never be fully completed
attached to the left boot probably the
Vietnam campaign ribbon this collection
is really a social history this
collection is being written by the
everyday person and there's a name
Charles which is abbreviated the public
is really curating this collection the
public is saying I feel that this is
importance of me and on the left boot we
have our IP rest in peace with the Latin
cross inscribed and sentiments not
forgotten
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