Final answer:
Maya Lin's design for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial promotes a reflective journey of healing and reconciliation, leading visitors downward and upward along a V-shaped granite wall inscribed with the names of the fallen.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a quiet, unobtrusive way, Maya Lin's Vietnam Veterans Memorial design encourages a ritual or a journey that leads downward into a valley of death and then upward towards light, hope, healing, and reconciliation. This can be seen through her use of a V-shaped wall of granite which includes the names of every soldier killed or missing, inscribed on its surface. Her approach to the design was very different from traditional memorial tributes, focusing on reflection and personal engagement with the memorial. The wall is designed to draw visitors on a contemplative walk along its path, encouraging a personal and profound interaction with the sacrifice of the veterans.