Commems Collection Modern: 1994 Vietnam Women's Memorial / Part I -The Memorial

I've written before about the commemorative Silver Dollar that was proposed to support the Vietnam Veterans Memorial - you can read more here: What If? 1991-93 Vietnam Veterans - Part I and here What If? 1991-93 Vietnam Veterans - Part II.

But these efforts were not the only commemorative coin efforts connected to the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial...


Efforts in Congress to secure authorization for a Vietnam Women's Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC formally began in November 1987, during the 100th Congress, when bills/resolutions were introduced in the United States ("US") House of Representatives ("House") and US Senate. The proposal sought to authorize the Vietnam Women's Memorial Project, Inc. "to establish a commemorative statue to recognize and honor the women of the Armed Forces of the United States who served in the Vietnam war."

Though not without challenges, a measure on behalf of the Vietnam Women's Memorial Project and its goals was passed in the Second Session of the same Congress in November 1988. The Memorial, located near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, was dedicated on November 11, 1993.

The Memorial was designed/sculpted by Glenna Goodacre - the name might be familiar to you because of her work on the Sacagawea Dollar - with George Dickie serving as the architect on the project.

The bronze statue presents three uniformed women (circa Vietnam War). Of the three women, one (the figure holding the fallen soldier) is a nurse, a second looks expectantly toward the sky (scanning for an evac helicopter?) and a third (partially visible at left) kneels while holding a helment and looking down forlornly.

Vietnam Women's Memorial


The story continues is Part II - The Coin.