Final answer:
Maya Lin envisioned the Vietnam Veterans Memorial as a V-shaped granite wall engraved with names of the fallen, emphasizing a personal connection and sacrifice over traditional heroic narratives. The design encourages reflection and contemplation, symbolizing the war's impact on individuals and their families.
Step-by-step explanation:
Maya Lin, while visiting the site for the proposed Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, conceived a design that would comprise a V-shaped wall of granite engraved with the names of every American serviceman who was killed or remained missing in the Vietnam conflict. Lin's idea was to create a place that would serve as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made during one of America's most polarizing wars. The wall, as it slopes beneath ground level, offers a reflective experience for visitors, encouraging a personal and contemplative engagement with the memorial. It differs markedly from traditional war memorials by its simplicity and focus on the individuals it commemorates, rather than grandiose heroic statues.
The symbolic meaning behind her initial thought was to create a deep emotional connection between visitors and the fallen Soldiers, rather than to celebrate the conflict or demonstrate might. This reflective memorial draws attention to the personal loss and sacrifice, rather than on valor and victory. Moreover, the reflective nature of the wall's granite allows visitors a moment of introspection and serves to remind them of their own presence in relation to the history of the Vietnam War.