What does the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. mean? For what?

I think it means that better than two million of us served there honorably. Made me cry and shake uncontrollaby. Left every ribbon, award, stripe, and regimental patch with my brothers there named. But overall I was disappointed because the only thing it commemorated were 58,000+dead soldiers. Does it say "welcome home" anywhere? Or maybe "thank you"?