What does the Vietnam veterans memorial represent?

The symbolisms behind the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC are largely on the observers. The engraved names on the black walls document and give voices to all those lost. Furthermore the two corner slabs marked 1959 and 1975 illustrate the years of first casualties at the War's begining to its end in 1975 - a course of 16 years. The surrounding Combat Nurse's statue credits the role of women during the war. The adjacent statue of the three GIs also credits the contribution of African Americans to the conflict in the midst of the Civil Rights Movements dividing the country at home at the same time the War progressed.