THE TENSION: Photo Essay: Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall Ceremony

Visitors pay tribute to the wall’s 58,260 etched names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which bear testament to the ultimate sacrifice made by U.S. troops. (Defense Dept. photo by Sebastian J. Sciotti, Jr.)

James Nicholson, former secretary of Veteran Affairs, speaks to the press about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial before the ceremony, May 7, 2008, Washington, D.C. Jan C. Scruggs, left, founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, looks on. (Defense Dept. photo by Sebastian J. Sciotti, Jr.)

Priscilla Mason, the widow of U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Raymond C. Mason, who died a year ago from complications resulting from a wound he sustained in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive in 1968, talks to the press before the ceremony, May 7, 2008, Washington, D.C. Jan C. Scruggs, right, founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, listens as Mason speaks. (Defense Dept. photo by Sebastian J. Sciotti, Jr.)

James Lee, who has engraved many names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, explains some of the technical aspects of the process to Priscilla Mason, whose deceased husband's name is being added to the wall, and to Jan C, Scruggs, founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, May 7, 2008, Washington, D.C. Mason is the widow of U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Raymond C. Mason, who died May 28, 2006, of complications from wounds he received Feb. 28, 1968, during the Tet Offensive. (Defense Dept. photo by Sebastian J. Sciotti, Jr.)

James Lee, who has engraved many names onto the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, uses a sandblaster to stencil U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Raymond C. Mason's name onto the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, May 7, 2008, Washington, D.C. Mason died May 28, 2006, of complications from wounds he received Feb. 28, 1968, during the Tet Offensive. (Defense Dept. photo by Sebastian J. Sciotti, Jr.)