Part of the 3rd Grade East She Persisted Series

By Mikaela 秀晴

Introduction

Maya Lin is an American artist, designer, and architect. She created one of the most influential memorials in the US. 

Early Years

Maya was born on October 5,1959 in Ohio. Maya loved nature. She tried to tame squirrels and birds. She named her favorite hill the “Lizards Back.” When Maya was in college there was a contest for the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial. Maya, still in college, won! Her design was simple, a long wall with all the names of the veterans. It would reflect the faces of everyone, to remind people war affected all of us.

Life as an Adult

Maya now makes sculptures from recycled toys and natural landscapes. She also made the Civil Rights Monument, in Montgomery, Alabama.

Accomplishments

Maya received several Awards and honors for her work. She didn’t let anybody change her idea for the Vietnam Veterans War memorial no matter what they said. In 2016 she even received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 

Conclusion 

Her design for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial outraged some because it was different from other memorials. Her Asian ethnicity was also controversial. She had to defend her design to the US Congress. The memorial was completed in 1982. Maya has changed the world and encouraged others to never give up on their ideas. Maya persisted and did not let anyone change her idea.

“I thought about what death is. A sharp pain that lessens over time, but never quite heals over. A scar. The idea occurred to me there on the site. Take a knife and cut open the earth, and with time the grass would heal it as if you cut open the rock and polished it.”

-Maya Lin