The Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia is composed of 1,500 names of people who died during the Vietnam War, etched in stone.
Dr. Clay Mountcastle and his memorial staff are working on an exhibit called “50 Yards Beyond: The Vietnam Veteran Experience,” which will be open to the public on January 27, 2023 - the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Peace Accords, marking the end of America’s involvement in the war.
According to Channel 6 News, the exhibit will include faces and stories of the names etched in stone. Not only will the information of the deceased be included but also the information of surviving veterans from Vietnam, so Mountcastle and his research team are searching for and accepting photographs taken of living soldiers during the war until April 30.
Mountcastle says that he seeks to interview the veterans about their time during the war and what life was like after returning home as a result of the peace accords being signed.
“We will be able to interview them and record some of their thoughts just as life as a Vietnam veteran over the last 50 years,” Mountcastle told WTVR.
The staff will also be taking candid photos of the veterans that will then be formed into professional portraits.
“This is a way to say thank you that has been delayed in a lot of ways, an overdue thank you to those who served in Vietnam,” Mountcastle said.