Which U.S. memorial is shaped like a large black granite wall inscribed with Vietnam War names?

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is the black granite wall inscribed with the names of Americans who died or remain missing from the Vietnam War.

Designed by architect Maya Lin, the memorial consists of two long walls that meet in a wide V shape in Washington, D.C. The names are arranged chronologically by date of casualty, allowing visitors to trace the war through its dead and missing service members.

The memorial was dedicated in 1982 after Lin’s design won a national competition. Additional elements were later added, including the Three Soldiers statue and the Vietnam Women’s Memorial, creating a larger memorial complex.

The wall is often visited around Memorial Day because its purpose closely matches the holiday’s focus on military personnel who died in service. It is different from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in other cities, which are replicas or related local tributes.