The effects of visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on adjustment to bereavement

Abstract

The lack of grief rituals in the United States has created a culture that is poorly equipped to heal from loss. The ritual of visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial has allowed American visitors the opportunity to express their grief over the deaths of their loved ones. This study examined the aspects of the rituals performed at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to determine their effect on bereavement. Questionnaires were distributed at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to adult American visitors who experienced a loss of a loved one from the Vietnam War. Inferential statistical analysis could not be performed due to the small sample size thereby this study was unable to determine if there were significant benefits for participants who performed rituals and that certain aspects of the rituals were more important than others. The lack of grief rituals in the United States has created.