Photo Friday: Vietnam Women’s Memorial, Washington, DC USA

265,000 women served during the Vietnam war, all of them volunteers, most were nurses. This memorial is part of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (@VVMF), which is celebrating its 35th year this year.

There’s an excellent narrative of the history of the memorial online that you can read here. This memorial will celebrate its 24th year after a…

10-year struggle by thousands of volunteers who over- came controversy, rejection, and challenge by those who thought that a women’s memorial was not needed.

Eight military women (seven army nurses and one air force nurse) lost their lives in Vietnam. Their names are engraved on the Vietnam Veteram Memorial the Wall,along with 58,209 other military personnel who made the ultimate sacrefice for their country. More than 50 civilian women died in Vietnam.

Additional photos of war memorials are below. All are creative commons licensed.