Queens Vietnam Veterans Memorial

The Queens Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a memorial at Elmhurst Park in Elmhurst, Queens, New York City in honor of the veterans of the Vietnam War of 1955–1975. It was designed by Landscape Architects Denise Mattes and Frank Varro.

Queens Vietnam Veterans Memorial
LocationQueens, New York City, United States
Coordinates40.730798°N 73.885215°W / 40.730798; -73.885215
EstablishedDecember 20, 2019

Located at the northeastern corner of Elmhurst Park, it was announced in June 2017.[1] Although planning and fundraising started in the mid-2000s,[2][3] construction began on November 29, 2018, with $2.3 million in funding from the Queens Borough Council.[2][4] The memorial was dedicated on December 20, 2019.[5][6]

The Memorial is a slightly sunken elliptical space framed by two Barre Gray Granite walls.[7] One wall contains the names of the 371 Queens residents who died in the Vietnam War, with their ages at their death. Under the names is a timeline of the war, describing some of the major events from May 7, 1954 to April 30, 1975. There is then a short statement honoring those veterans who have lost their lives after the war due to things ranging from PTSD to Agent Orange exposure side effects.[7] It also honors Pat Toro, a veteran who advocated for the memorial but died prior to its construction.[8] The opposite granite wall has a drawing of Bamboo etched in its surface, with a bench where visitors can sit and view the names and history. The outside face of the wall is engraved with the name of the memorial, a dedication to all Vietnam Veterans, an engraving of the Vietnam Service Medal, and of the Service Marks for the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard. The faces of the wall with the title and the names and history are lit, as is a flag pole. In the center of the elliptical space is a granite map showing the area around Vietnam, with several places mentioned in the historical text marked as well.[7] The plantings around the memorial were selected to provide color throughout the year, with a focus on fall color of Green, Yellow and Red, the colors of the Vietnam Service Medal Ribbon, around Veterans Day.

View of the Memorial from the Entry to Elmhurst Park

References
  1. "Elmhurst Park Vietnam memorial design unveiled". Queens Chronicle. June 12, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  2. Brand, David (November 28, 2018). "Vietnam Veterans Memorial Finally Breaks Ground in Elmhurst Park". Queens Daily Eagle. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  3. "New Queens Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Elmhurst Park is a long time in coming". TimesLedger. December 3, 2018. Archived from the original on December 3, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  4. "New Vietnam Veterans Memorial In Queens". The Rockaway Times. November 29, 2018. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  5. Russell, David (December 26, 2019). "'They remain ageless in our minds': vet". Queens Chronicle. Retrieved 2019-12-29.
  6. Brand, David (December 27, 2019). "Queens' first Vietnam War Memorial finally opens in Elmhurst". Queens Daily Eagle. Retrieved 2019-12-29.
  7. "Elmhurst Park Monuments - Queens Vietnam Veterans Memorial : NYC Parks". www.nycgovparks.org. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  8. Colangelo, Lisa L. "Pat Toro, 64, a decorated former marine and fierce advocate for veterans loses his final battle". nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
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