Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Author at Vietnam War Memorial

Why Memorials Matter: 6 Benefits of Honoring the Past

Memorials are created to commemorate people, events, and ideas. Although there are plenty of memorials scattered throughout every city and town in the US, not many people take the time to consider the importance of these tributes. Understanding the value of memorials is crucial to preserving the historical events they memorialize. There are several benefits to honoring the past that impact everyone involved in a positive way.

1. Honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Memorials that commemorate a historical conflict have the power to honor those who gave their lives in service of their country. The selfless men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in the military deserve to have a formal display of appreciation and remembrance. It’s the least the public can do to show their lasting gratitude. Furthermore, memorials are a great way to show family members and friends of deceased veterans that their sacrifice is deeply appreciated.

2. Remembering important historical events.

It’s easy to lose sight of the importance and impact of a historical event as there’s always something new on the horizon to capture the public’s attention, awareness, and concern. Memorials are a fantastic way to keep past events alive in public memory by putting them front and center. Whether people pass a memorial on the way to work, when walking through the park, or while vacationing in another state, they’ll immediately have the event behind memorialized front and center in their minds.

3. Educating younger generations.

There’s an alarming lack of knowledge among the general public of United States history, especially when it comes to wars. These battles have played a crucial role in the trajectory of the country and still have reverberating consequences today. Memorials are an impactful reminder of these events and can facilitate the education of younger generations. As the old saying goes, those who understand history are less likely to repeat it.

4. Maintaining a strong national identity.

National identity is all about how people feel about their country and their connection to it. Promoting national identity is crucial for fostering cohesion amongst the public, improving physical security, establishing a position on the global stage, demanding good governance, and so much more. Memorials help maintain a robust national identity by keeping the sacrifices of previous generations and the collective struggle of the country top of mind.

5. Showing appreciation to veterans.

Some of the biggest challenges veterans face actually occur in their transition back to civilian life. It’s crucial that our service members understand that their selfless commitment is meaningful and appreciated. The public might be overwhelmingly thankful for the actions of veterans, but it doesn’t do any good to keep that gratitude inside. Memorials are an effective way to publicly display that appreciation to veterans so they can see their service was worthwhile and impactful.

6. Helping in the grieving process.

Memorials can offer psychological benefits by assisting in the grieving process for those who have lost a loved one in war. Offering a permanent place for fallen veterans to be remembered, honored, and appreciated can help survivors through the healing process. Memorials offer a physical space for recognition, gratitude, and mourning that everyone can benefit from.

Why Vietnam memorials matter.

Every major war in US history deserves memorialization, but the Vietnam War has unique merits for remembrance. Despite being one of the more well-known wars, the American public is widely misinformed about the purpose, goals, and results of the conflict. This has led to unfortunate mischaracterizations. Memorials to the Vietnam War help to correct these misconceptions by accurately depicting this critical time in US history. Vietnam Veterans and their family members benefit directly by having a public display of appreciation for their sacrifices too.

The Oregon Vietnam Memorial is committed to remembering, honoring, and showing appreciation to those who served in the Vietnam War through the establishment of a memorial in Oregon. If you’re interested in learning more about the project and how you can donate to show your support, visit www.ocvvm.com

Ways to Honor Those Who Served in Vietnam

If you’re eager to show your appreciation for those who served in the Vietnam War, we’ve got some actionable suggestions to help you channel that support in the best way possible.

Learn about the history.

Despite being one of the most prominent wars in terms of media depiction, the Vietnam War is still among the more misunderstood conflicts in US history. There are significant misconceptions that skew the public’s perception of the war. These errors end up tainting how veterans are viewed. As a result, a great way to honor those who served in the Vietnam War is simply to learn about the history.

Whether you prefer reading books, listening to podcasts, tuning into documentaries, or watching film depictions, there’s no shortage of excellent and accurate content available. Gaining an accurate and holistic perspective on the conflict is doing your part to thank veterans for their sacrifices.

Say “thank you” to veterans.

It can feel a bit weird to thank Vietnam veterans for their service decades later. However, this seemingly small gesture speaks volumes and goes a long way in making veterans feel appreciated, understood, and honored. This is especially important for Vietnam Veterans who experienced a relatively unwelcome return from theater due to negative media depictions.

If you have a relative, coworker, friend, neighbor, or even acquaintance who served in the war, consider verbalizing your appreciation for their service. It can make a difference in how accepted veterans feel in their communities even decades after the conflict. In reality, you probably won’t even begin to realize how impactful a simple thank you can be.

Ask about their service respectfully.

There are a number of ways an individual’s service in the Vietnam War might arise. Some veterans have hats, bumper stickers, shirts, and other materials that communicate their experience. In these instances, it’s safe to assume that a veteran might be open and even eager to discuss their service.

It can be a touchy subject, so stick to neutral questions that give the veteran room to elaborate according to their comfort level. Here are some questions you can ask comfortably:

Did you serve in the Vietnam War?
What branch were you in?
How long did you serve?

Volunteer to assist struggling veterans.

Tragically, many military veterans don’t get the government support they deserve upon returning home from deployment. There are a number of private, grassroots organizations picking up the slack to ensure veterans no matter their age or condition are taken care of. Volunteering your time to these organizations is a great way to honor those who served in Vietnam.

These brave men and women sacrificed their lives to protect the freedoms you enjoy daily, and dedicating your time to supporting them after returning home is one of the most direct ways to show your appreciation. There are plenty of organizations that support Vietnam Veterans specifically since these veterans face unique challenges.

Donate to projects honoring service members.

A critical part of commemorating, honoring, and remembering service members is the funding of projects that seek to memorialize their service and sacrifice. Learning about the war through media is meaningful, but it stops short of permanently and publicly showing appreciation and support for those who served.

There are projects around the country on the federal, state, and municipal levels seeking to memorialize those who have served and made the ultimate sacrifice in the Vietnam War. Offering a donation of any size is a great way to show your support while ensuring the memory of the Vietnam War lives on for generations.

The Oregon Vietnam Memorial is dedicated to honoring those who served in the Vietnam War through the establishment of a memorial in Oregon. If you’re interested in learning more about the project and how you can donate to show your support, visit www.ocvvm.com

Why Oregonians Should Care About the Vietnam War

For many Oregonians, the only connection they have with the Vietnam War is through high school and college courses, movie and film adaptations, or books and magazines. Although these are excellent resources for learning about the conflict, they don’t always strike at the heart of why Oregonians should care about the Vietnam War. It’s crucial to be informed about our nation’s history, but it’s equally important to feel connected. Here are a few reasons why everyone living in Oregon should care about this historic war.

It’s the second deadliest war for Oregonians.

The Vietnam War is only second to World War II as the deadliest engagement for Oregon citizens. A record number of Oregonians made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, underscoring the state’s commitment to freedom and democracy. A total of 791 Oregonians gave their lives in the Vietnam War right behind the 3,700 who perished in WWII. Citizens of Oregon today should view the battle not just as the United States fight but as an Oregonian fight. The Beaver State should feel a sense of pride for the bravery and selflessness of their fellow statesmen in the effort.

It was primarily a volunteer war.

There’s a pervasive misconception that draftees primarily fought the Vietnam War. Although it was one of the largest drafts in recent memory, it has to be understood within the context of the massive mobilization taking place at the time. A staggering 2.7 million Americans were stationed in Vietnam with millions of others mobilized at home. Contrary to popular belief, only one-third of Americans shipped off to Vietnam were drafted. The rest were all volunteers who felt personally compelled to protect their loved ones and brethren across the world. This salient fact flips the narrative that the Vietnam War was waged entirely by the US leadership without any support from the American public.

Many veterans call Oregon home.

The Vietnam War might feel like a distant conflict, but there are still several million veterans living across the United States with a significant portion living in Oregon. Vietnam Veterans are as young as 62, and their median age is 75. Oregonians should still care about the Vietnam War because there’s a good chance a neighbor, coworker, or relative risked their lives in the conflict to protect the freedoms we enjoy on a daily basis. This recognition and appreciation are meaningful to those who served by reaffirming their choice to sacrifice their time and risk their lives protecting Americans at home.

The war still has implications today.

Over time, it’s easy to feel more and more distanced from the Vietnam War. But time is no excuse for misremembering or altogether forgetting our country’s history. Despite being fought in a far-off country, the Vietnam War was one of the most defining battles in our nation’s history. We’re still feeling the ripple effects to this day. Communism and similar totalitarian forms of government are still an active threat in many areas of the world. The US has proven its commitment to the spread of democracy and pluralism across the world and many countries have followed suit. The Vietnam War proved that dedication and will continue to inform generations in the future about what it means to fight for freedom.

It had a positive effect on the region.

It’s easy to get bogged down in historical nuances, but there was one foundational motivation behind the Vietnam War: To protect the rights, freedoms, and liberties of people across the world. Dictatorships were spreading like wildfire in the region at the time, and the US decided to draw a line in the sand. The sacrifices made by Oregonians and all people who fought ensured that the threat of communism didn’t spread throughout the region. Although communist North Vietnam did prevail in its effort to take over the country, most nations in Asia have flourishing democracies. This underscores the US achievement of limiting the spread of dictatorships.

The Oregon Vietnam Memorial is committed to giving veterans the honor and recognition they deserve by establishing a monument to commemorate the sacrifices made by our fellow Oregonians. Please visit www.ocvvm.com to learn more about the project and how you can help make this a reality.