The Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial, located in Ocean City, Mississippi, contains the names and pictures of soldiers from Mississippi who were killed in the Vietnam War. The site features numerous other displays that commemorate the sacrifices made by Mississippians during other wars and conflicts, allowing audiences to engage with the space and the history it commemorates in numerous ways.
Appreciation to Mississippians Who Served in Vietnam
Built in 1996, the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial is the result of an endeavor to honor the Mississippians who gave their lives in the Vietnam War. It was the result of the efforts of a group of Vietnamese Americans who wanted to find an appropriate way to show their appreciation to Mississippians who fought to keep Vietnam a free country. That led to the creation of a committee that would eventually select the Ocean City site as the place to build the memorial.
Designed to be more than just a memorial, limestone and concrete walls define the memorial, which features two black granite slabs that contain the names of the 668 Mississippians killed in the war. These names are engraved into the granite along with photos that have been laser-etched into the stone. Commemorating veterans in this way allows it to serve as a place that is equally about healing and teaching.
The main mast of the USS Mississippi CGN-40 along with the WWII/USS Tullibee Memorial also resides on the site. Additionally, the walking path is lined with plaques of Mississippi Congressional Medal of Honor winners. This variety of commemoration and remembrance has allowed residents and visitors to engage with the site in numerous ways to capture the attention of audiences from all over.
Activities, Events and Funding
Designed in part to be a living tribute to those Vietnam Veterans who survived the war, the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial also honors World War I, World War II and Korean War veterans. These multiple monuments along with features like exercise stations along the walking path highlight the many experiences audiences can have across the site.
Some of these experiences are related to on-going events held at the monument as well as the continual expansion of the memorial. Funding for these initiatives is handled by a non-profit organization, the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee. This organization takes care of the memorial itself and is also responsible for the addition of more names of people who may have been left off the official register. The organization also raises funds to pay for the photo-engraving and upkeep of the site by selling name-bricks for the sidewalk.
These activities and sources of funding are the results of an endeavor to build a memorial that couldn’t be replicated anywhere else in the world. Doing so has enabled a legacy that connects the past and future of the entire region.
A Living Legacy
The result of volunteer efforts put forth by dedicated individuals, municipalities, businesses and civic organizations, the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial is designed to be a place of healing and teaching while also serving as a living legacy. Doing so has allowed it to become an important and notable draw for the entire region.
By honoring veterans in such distinct and powerful ways, the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial highlights what it can mean for a memorial to capture the interest and attention of audiences of all eras.
