THE VERMONT VIETNAM MEMORIAL
THE FIRST MEMORIAL IN THE
COUNTRY TO HONOR THOSE WHO
GAVE THEIR LIVES IN SERVICE
IN THE VIETNAM WAR WAS FIRST
DEDICATED ON THIS SITE ON
OCTOBER 30, 1982.
IN MEMORY OF THE
MEN AND WOMEN
FROM VERMONT
WHO SERVED
IN THE VIETNAM WAR
AND LATER DIED.
WE HONOR AND REMEMBER
THEIR SACRIFICE.
VERMONT VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL
WE SHALL NEVER FORGET
MIA
2005
The memorial is located at the new Sharon, Vermont rest area.
The memorial is located at the new Sharon, Vermont rest area.
"What we believe to be the first state sanctioned Vietnam Veterans Memorial in the nation was dedicated at 10:30 AM on October 30, 1982 at the northbound rest area on interstate 89, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial highway, in Sharon, Vermont. Since it dedication, an all night vigil has been held at the memorial on memorial day eve every year since.
This site for the memorial was chosen for several reasons. Interstate 89 was named the vietnam veterans memorial highway because the summer scenery closely resembles that of highway one in the central highlands of Vietnam. The site for the memorial was selected to be along the highway as a joint symbol of recognition of the highway's name and familiarity to highway one in Vietnam. interstate 89 was the highway taken by draft evaders as the most direct route into Canada and so stands as the "road less traveled" by Vietnam veterans. The location of the memorial is closest to the 138 mile marker from the Canadian border, symbolizing the 138 men whose names appear on the Vermont Granite." (Taken from link above.)