Why was the addition of Frederick Harts sculpture considered a compromise?

The addition of Frederick Hart's sculpture, "Three Soldiers," to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was seen as a compromise because it addressed criticisms that the original memorial, designed by Maya Lin, was too abstract and somber. Many veterans and their families felt that the stark black granite wall did not adequately represent the heroism and sacrifice of soldiers. Hart's realistic bronze figures provided a more traditional and representational element that some believed would honor the veterans more fittingly, thus bridging differing perspectives on how to memorialize the conflict.