How was the design picked for the Memorial?
In October, 1980, the Memorial Fund announced a national design competition open to any U.S. citizen, 18 years of age or above, with a March 31, 1981 deadline. 1,421 design entries were submitted and all designs were reviewed anonymously by a jury of eight internationally recognized artists and designers. On May 1, 1981, the jury selected entry #1026 unanimously as the one best meeting the spirit and formal requirements of the competition.
