Has your initial opinion of the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial (The Wall) changed over time?

MSG (Join to see) I thought the wall was a bunch of hooey. Until I was there - and now reading these comments! Sorry 'bout that!

I visited The Wall after BCT Graduation in Dress Uniform-I couldn't keep the tear from falling and when asked if I was OK...to my left and right were VETERANS from Nam, WWII and Korea surrounding a just graduated PV2. We saluted together and I was then told that I was NOW part of a family-I WAS A SOLDIER

Truthfully, I never experienced a moment of shame, self-doubt, questioning of the morality or political rightness of the Vietnam War. I believed we were trying to give the Vietnamese the same chance at success without communism that South Korea enjoys. The hippies and war protestors were ignorant, pot-smoking, head-up-their-ass children who wanted everything without having to earn any of it. Their opinion of me, the Marine Corps or the war was irrelevant to me as I knew in my heart they were wrong. Therefore their distain for me never meant shit.
Looking back, I know I was fortunate and did not participate it the bloodiest battles like Tet '68. But maybe it was how I was raised. I saw the armed forces as the noblest of callings. Hard men doing hard things for love of family and country. The ones I respected the most were the grunts who had it the hardest. I wanted to be part of that group - to test myself and see if I could measure up. That's why a flunked out of cryptography school to become an 03 and get to Nam before it ended. (Really pissed off that disenrollment board at Pensacola.). Anyway, I got what I wanted and blessedly have lived long enough to see the country pull its head out of its ass enough to thank the Vietnam Vets these days as they should've done then. IMHO.

I have been to the Wall many times over the years and have found lately that I must visit it alone, when traveling with family and friends I will ask them to give me this time alone with my Brothers,for the first few times this caused some resentment, but I guess they have finally come to understand that part of my life,even though many years ago is something that I cannot share,I was all in when I heard of the initial project,the design made sense to me and I was moved the first and every time I been in it's presence.

I did not like the design when I first saw the drawings and later some pictures. I actually avpoidewd going there until encouraged by some friends that were driving up for the weekend. I didn't think much about it until I came face tpo face with the wall and then it hit me in many ways from the emotions, the shock of its saze, the fifty eight thousand name to the beauty of the memorial. I has hit with a flood of emotions like I had never had before. I believe it is the best tribute to the Vietnam Fallen that could ever be built. The traveling walls are fine but nothing beats the real deal and the ghost reflected from its panels.

(1980 - 2013) Well, it was not my war, but the war of my youth... nightly on ABC, CBS, and NBC. It had always been an amazing monument, both in design and impact. I went TDY many many times to DC and every time I was there, I ensured I made to the National Mall at night to view our memorials when no crowds were present... Try it.

Over time, it got more personal for me. Makes you wonder a bit more. Miss you. Wish I got to know you better. I remember, but will others? I guess we get more introspective as we age. Dean, Agent Orange finally ate you up from the inside out. You went long before your time. Does your name belong here? I don't know. Then you make your way out knowing you'll be back again some day. It'll be there just as you will be. The Wall is something I feel a part of because I know some of them. Bottom line, the more relevant, the more it means something.

MSG (Join to see) Marine-VN-68-69--Like many others i saw the Wall as too little too late --too many of my fellow Marines names are on the wall and still do not wish to visit it.

So I'm a Post-9/11 vet. I'm only 34 years old, so the Wall is older than I am.

My perspective of the Wall has never changed exactly, but I will say joining the military gave me a deeper appreciation of it.

Since I was a child, patriotic values were instilled in me. But one thing that was always drilled into me was support for our troops, because there was a time in our history when the public turned their backs on them. Obviously I was a little bit older before I made the connection to the Vietnam War, but it's something that always stuck in my head.

Personally, I never thought it was possible to turn your backs on your own military until I witnessed it myself. (Now I am by no means trying to negate what the Vietnam veterans went though, this is just a personal observation)

I remember when 9/11 happened, you were hard pressed to find someone who didn't support the war. Yellow Support the Troops ribbons were everywhere. Welcome Home parties were celebrations after every deployment. Fast forward after a decade of armed conflict. You see service members being called baby killers, government puppets, murderers, etc. The only people you'll typically see who still support the troops is around military communities.

So it honestly blew my mind when I could see it for myself within my own lifetime the general public turned it's back on the troops. So I always make it a point to thank someone for their service, especially the older veterans, because there was a period in our history where people didn't thank the troops and spit on them instead.

When I see the Wall, it reminds me that there are good people still in this Country who are willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice even for an ungrateful nation.