RETURN TO IN MEMORY MEMORIAL PLAQUE PROJECT GATEWAY PAGE
Below is the text of NCPC File No. 2087, a comprehensive report regarding the In Memory Plaque submitted May 2, 2002 by the National Capital Planning Commission to the National Park Service. It is available in PDF file format at:
http://www.ncpc.gov/actions/pdf/2002/VietnamPlaque_050202.pdf
NCPC File No. 2087
Page 1VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL
COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE
Constitution Gardens, 21st Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C.
Report to the National Park Service
May 2, 2002
Abstract
The National Park Service, on behalf of the American Battle Monuments Commission and the
Vietnam Memory Project, has submitted a proposal for the location and design of a Memory
Commemorative Plaque at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The U.S. Congress passed
legislation that required the addition of a plaque at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to
commemorate those who served in Vietnam and died after the war as a result of their service.
The location and design of the plaque is a result of site analysis and studies conducted by a
coalition of veterans' organizations that included the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, the
Vietnam Women's Memorial Project, and the Vietnam War In Memory Memorial, Inc. It was
determined that the plaque should be located in the immediate vicinity of the existing Three
Servicemen Statue Plaza on the memorial grounds.
Authority
The Commemorative Works Act (40 U.S.C. 1007), as amended by Public Law 106-214)
Commission Action
The Commission:
· Approves the location and the preliminary and final design plans for a commemorative
plaque to be placed at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Constitution Gardens, 21st Street
and Constitution Avenue, NW, as shown on NCPC Map File No. 1.43(73.10)-41025.
· Reiterates its October 8, 1992 and November 7, 1991 positions that the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial is complete and should not be altered by the addition of any other
memorial elements.
* * *
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Page 2
BACKGROUND AND STAFF EVALUATION
DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSAL
The National Park Service (NPS), on behalf of the American Battle Monuments Commission and
the Vietnam Memory Project, Inc. has submitted a proposal to add a plaque at the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial to commemorate those who served in Vietnam and died, after the conclusion
of the war, as a result of their service.
Functional Program
Public Law 106-214, the legislation that authorized the plaque, stipulates that:
· It shall commemorate those who died after their service in the Vietnam War, but as a
direct result of that service, and whose names are not otherwise eligible for placement on
the Memorial Wall.
· It shall be of a size that is not less than six square feet or larger than 18 square feet.
Design Program
The objective of the design program is to ensure that the plaque maintains the merit of the
existing memorial while honorably commemorating the intended victims. It is anticipated that
the design will:
· Provide a dignified presence.
· Respect the design logic of the existing memorial elements.
· Provide a sense of integration with the existing memorial elements.
· Not be misunderstood as a dedication statement for any of the existing memorial
elements.
· Develop a sensitive design relationship between the plaque and the existing memorial.
· Provide an area to visit the plaque.
· Fit in and be compatible with the existing maintenance program in the memorial grounds.
· Respect the existing plan for the memorial grounds.
· Preserve and enhance existing vegetation.
NCPC File No. 2087
Page 3
· Minimize additional paving, lighting, maintenance requirements, and distracting
pedestrian control devices.
Location
The proposed plaque would be located at the northeast corner of the Three Servicemen Statue
Plaza. This would require that the existing plaza be extended three feet to accommodate the
plaque and its viewing area, as well as photographers at the existing site. Landscaping would
also be extended approximately three feet to properly frame the new plaque.
Plaque
The plaque would be 24 inches tall by 36 inches wide. The typeface of the inscription would
match that on the memorial wall and be inscribed into a monolithic gray granite stone that would
match the adjacent paving. The inscription would be filled with black grout to provide a finish
that is legible from all sides and in all light conditions.
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTION
At its October 8, 1992 meeting, the Commission approved the preliminary and final design plans
for the Vietnam Women's Memorial. At this time, the Commission also reiterated its November
7, 1991 position that with the addition of the Vietnam Women's Memorial to the setting of the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the overall memorial is now complete and should not be altered by
the addition of any other memorial elements.
EVALUATION
Staff recommends approval of the proposed location and preliminary and final design plans of
the plaque at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. As indicated in the "Previous Commission
Action" section of this report, the Commission stated that it considered the Vietnam Veterans
Memorial complete at the time it approved the Vietnam Women's Memoria l. It further stated
that the overall memorial should not be altered by the addition of any other memorial elements.
The current proposal is in response to Congressional legislation that provides for placement of a
plaque within the site of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Commission is seeking the best
way to accommodate that intent. As such, the location of the plaque should be in harmony with
existing memorial elements and not dilute the overall Vietnam Veterans Memorial setting. The
challenge to locating the proposed plaque is to place it in an area that relates to, and is visually
linked to, the other elements of the memorial. The proposed location and design for the plaque
will accomplish several important objectives:
· It is adjacent to the heaviest memorial circulation route and it occurs sequentially for
visitors as they move from the statue area to the memorial wall.
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· It has a good visual relationship with the memorial wall, statue and flagpole, and a partial
view of the Women's Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Also, it would not block the dynamic
tension of views between the statues and the memorial wall.
· It would have minimal impact on existing pedestrian circulation patterns and the
proposed plaza expansion would provide additional space for visitors.
· The site is far enough east of the statue to have shaded space in the morning, thereby
allowing for visitors to pause and reflect.
· It would provide enough space for the temporary placement of mementos.
· The proposed design would require minimum grading and impact on existing drainage
and trees.
The overall integrity of the existing memorial elements (memorial wall, Three Servicemen
Statue, flagpole, and Vietnam Women's Memorial) would be maintained because the new plaque
would be strategically "inserted" into the area near the Three Servicemen Statue. It allows the
best relationship to the existing memorial, with no visual intrusion and relatively little
disturbance to existing conditions. Given the small size of the proposed plaque, it is better to colocate
the smaller memorial elements than to disperse them throughout the Vietnam Veterans
Memorial site. The objective is to eliminate "clutter."
Regarding the design of the plaque, its 2-foot by 3-foot size is appropriate and the use of
monolithic gray granite stone, matching the existing adjacent paving, is compatible with its
immediate environment. The typeface matches that on the memorial wall and filling the
inscription with black grout provides a finish that would be legible from all sides and in all
lighting conditions. The words of the inscription are simple and direct, and their powerful
message is left for the visitor to interpret, similar to the other abstract elements of the memorial.
In summary, staff believes that the proposed site and design of the commemorative plaque is an
appropriate solution to accommodating the requirements of Public Law 106-214, and therefore,
recommends approval.
COORDINATION
Coordinating Committee
The Coordinating Committee reviewed this item at its meeting on April 10, 2002 and forwarded
the proposal to the Commission with the statement that the project has been coordinated with all
agencies participating. The participating agencies were NCPC; the District of Columbia Office
of Planning; the Department of Public Works; the General Services Administration; the National
Park Service; and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
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Page 5
Commission of Fine Arts
At its April 18, 2002 meeting, the Commission of Fine Arts approved the location and design of
the Commemorative Plaque at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
CONFORMANCE
Comprehensive Plan
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is located on the Mall, which is designated Monumental Park
in the Parks, Opens Space and Natural Features Element of the Comprehensive Plan and as a
Special Place in the Preservation and Historic Features Element. Applicable policies in these
elements to the proposed plaque location and design plans specify:
The Mall Complex should primarily serve as a formal setting for the Capitol, the
White House, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson
Memorial, and the Tidal Basin and should be maintained as a large, landscaped,
open, and ecologically significant area. It should also serve as a heritage education
center and meet passive/leisure and active recreational needs of visitors and
residents, to the extent that its primary purpose is not compromised.
Monuments, Parks and Designed Landscapesshould serve as settings to enhance
public buildings, monuments, and memorials; as such, their fundamental integrity
should be protected...
Special Streets and places should be maintained and enhanced in a manner that
promotes their roles as major features that help establish the images and the symbols
of the National Capital in the minds of its residents and visitors
The proposed plaque would be a compatible and complementary feature added to the existing
memorial and is consistent with these policies.
National Historic Preservation Act
NPS has concluded its Section 106 consultation with the DC State Historic Preservation Office
(DC SHPO), determining that the addition of the plaque and the accompanying site plans would
have no adverse effect on the National Register qualities of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial,
Constitutio n Gardens, or West Potomac Park. The DC SHPO concurred with this determination.
National Environmental Policy Act
Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), NPS has reviewed the potential
environmental effects of the proposed action.
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The existing site is not subject to flooding or any unusual subsurface conditions. Circulation routes
for pedestrian traffic are reasonably accommodated at the existing site.
In accordance with the NPS Environmental Compliance Guide, Section 3.4(C), the proposed
new commemorative plaque is Categorically Excluded in compliance with NEPA regulations.