Children climbing on the Vietnam Women’s Memorial. Is this disrespect or innocent fun?

Both. It is indeed disrespectful to those who the monument is honoring. But they're kids, who probably don't know any better, being kids and having fun. Nothing to get in a tizzy about, let the parents parent, and carry on. Perhaps if the parents were encouraging the behavior, that would be something to get upset over.

Two sides.

My gut reaction is to ask the kids to get off, then introduce them to the veteran right there, teachable moment that the kids don't get. That (should) get parental attention, and we can have another "teachable moment".

That said, being a teacher, the first time I was on the 8th grade field trip to DC, I managed to get the kids to shut up at the Tomb of the Unknown. But, one student (13, 14 years old), who's father is in the National Guard, played around the Pentagon 9/11 memorial, got sat down real quick by me with a stern talking to, also got a polite teaching moment by another visitor (who had lost a loved one in the Pentagon on 9/11), and not 40 mins later was leap-frogging over the stantions at the Air Force Memorial.

So, I blame the parents...with reservations. If they're in motion to yank the kids off, yeah I understand ya. If they're doing nothing about it, that's a significant difference.

Both. Parents should have known better

These children need to be informed by their parents or guardian that this is a memorial and that is represents women who have fallen in war. HOWEVER, the parents probably do not know better themselves. If I were there, I would have called them out on this.

Innocent fun. They're Kids.

I think it's definitely disrespectful. It is 100% the parent's responsibility to teach their children the correct way to conduct themselves.

Last year my wife and I took our 4 children (ages 11, 9, 7, and 1 at the time) to Arlington. Before we even got out of the vehicle we discussed with them the level of respect and behavior required at a place like that. We spent 4 hours there and they did not run, climb on anything, or even raise their voice a single time. They conducted themselves accordingly, because we as parents too the time to educate them. They were even mad at the terrible behavior of not only other children there, but of adults also.

I feel people these days just have no respect for anything, military or otherwise. It's sad, really. People are so wrapped up in themselves, they just don't care about anyone, or anything else. The only way to fix that trend is for parents to, well, be parents, and teach their children these things.

I'm not inclined to outrage about much until I have the full picture. I think the photo could be out of context. Was it taken by the parents, or by a bystander? If it was taken by the parents, thinking it was somehow cute or entertaining, then shame on them. Why take the time to visit these memorials if you're not going to show them the proper respect?

If it was taken by a bystander, maybe the parents had their backs turned for five seconds (as a father of 4, I know how quick things can happen) and immediately after this was taken, they realized what was going on and corrected the kids.

I think it depends on the age of the kids: if you have a toddler playing around, ok- it's a toddler and the child is still learning. At about 4, maybe 5- I think the kid is big enough that the parent can talk to them and explain the significance

Just to add a little context to the discussion (without letting these children's parents off the hook in the least), the Albert Einstein memorial is just across Constitution Avenue from the Vietnam War Memorial.

If you want to give some rug-rats an opportunity to burn off some statue-climbing energy, Albert's lap was made plenty big enough to accommodate lots of little ones without any need to step on a wounded soldier.

Let me say first, I am a preacher. Now, that is out of the way, I would have whipped my kids' a$$ if the thought of doing something like that even crossed their minds. They both learned by the age of three what respect for our war dead is. They also learned a game I taught them at a very young age, called word association. I would say, "I'm going to whip that a$$!", and they would say, " Okkay, I'm sorry! Please don't whip me! I won't do it anymore!" My, how quickly children learn things if parents spend a portion of their time teaching, instructing and and shaping their children to be the leaders of tomorrow instead of the next generation of inmates.