Stele B, the northern or right-hand stele is adorned with a series of 33 quotations fixed in stainless steel lettering. The quotations have been selected from the unique operations language developed in Vietnam, from the letters and other writings of service personnel and from other public documents containing typical responses to the War. This wall of words will enhance the figurative image deepening the recollections of those who were there, and educating those future generations of visitors about the special nature of Vietnam. In front of this wall and off centre of the entire internal space is the Memorial Stone - a monolithic of black granite, which functions in part as an altar, in part as the earthbound component of the contemplative inspirational function. The badges of the three armed services are fixed to the front of the stone.
Inspiration finds soaring expression in the roof of the memorial space.
Seven metres above the podium floor, suspended from the internal walls of the three stelae is a ring made from 24 sawn black granite segments each supported by three suspending cables. The whole array forms a beautiful cat s cradle of wires, granite segments and transparent but substantial shifting patterns of light and shadow. In this the designers felt that the ring s seemingly disembodied earthliness would recall the sacrifices made by the individuals who fought and dies and yet in its inspirational form would effect a transcendence of the past, a denial of simple mortality. In May 1988 the Federal Government announced its support for the project. In August 1988 the first official Vietnam Veterans Day was held.