Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park is a place dear to my heart. It was the first major Vietnam memorial in the United States and is currently the only State Park dedicated exclusively to veterans of the Vietnam War, and the only free state park in New Mexico. It is located off US Highway 64 in Angel Fire in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains on the Enchanted Circle of northeastern New Mexico.
For more info, click HERE.
The memorial was begun by Victor and Jeanne Westphall, the parents of Marine First Lieutenant David Westphall, who was among sixteen young men in his unit killed in an ambush in 1968 in Vietnam
The Westphalls used their son’s insurance policies to begin construction of the Peace and Brotherhood Chapel in 1971.
The chapel resembles a sail and perches on the hillside overlooking the Moreno Valley. The chapel is open twenty-four hours per day.
Not many people know that The Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C was inspired by The Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park in Angel Fire, New Mexico.
SPC Lori Anne Piestewa (December 14, 1979–March 23, 2003) was a U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps soldier killed during the same Iraqi Army attack in which her friend Jessica Lynch was injured. A member of the Hopi tribe, Piestewa was the first woman in the U.S. armed forces killed in the 2003 Iraq war and is the first Native American woman to die in combat while serving with the U.S. military. These tags were placed on one of the memorial stones outside the chapel.
You may have heard about her story on Extreme Makeover~Home Edition during the show’s first season. There are several videos posted up on You Tube~ Lori Piestewa if you want to see them, just be sure to have a box of tissues handy. I’ve not cried so many tears during a TV show ever. This video below is the last in a series of 10. It’s my favorite because they show the reactions of Lori’s parents and her children, as well as their beautiful paint horse, Arapahoe.
The first time we visited The Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Angel Fire, New Mexico, was in 1996 and I was 2 months pregnant with my twin sons. (These are photos from my scrapbooks)
We also had the extreme pleasure of meeting Dr. Victor Westphall in person, during our visit, before he passed away.
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From the Tower of,
23 Friendly Comments:
Lisa: What a neat tower to commerate a sad time in history. We were sadly effected in the Kent, Ohio area because of the student shootings.
A very touching story! I believe I saw that program, here in Norway! I remember the faces on her parents.
And what an amazing chapel! Never seen anything like it, it is really a wonderful building! And your photos of it are exquisite! Beautiful!
What a neat memorial, my husband is a Vietnam Vet and a Marine!
Semper Fi
What a fitting memorial, you captured it perfectly.
Have a great weekend
Guy
Regina In Pictures
Absolutely wonderful captures.
Happy skywatching
That's so sad... Just so sad. I feel SO badly for the people who had relatives who died. Once I went to NYC and I saw this guy sitting, crying by pictures. (It was about the Twin Towers =[) I felt so bad for him I almost wanted to give him a big hug. =')
Outstanding post. Wonderful photos of a great memorial and wonderful essay also.
Beautiful pictures.
We are headed to Washington D.C. in August and will be visiting Arlington National Cemetery. I hope my kids can grasp the enormity of the place and what it means.
Being a Vietnam Vet (Navy -- 1969 and 1971), I was very touched by visiting the Angel Fire Memorial. I have been to both, DC and Angel Fire and they each are unique. The setting for Angel Fire is beautiful.
Betty and I don't watch Extreme Home Makeover that often, but we made sure we saw the episode you mentioned. We also visited Tuba City shortly after that episode and tried to find the Veterans Hall they also built while they were there for the Navajo veterans, but we weren't able to find it.
Thanks for sharing.
Dan
Lisa, THANKS for remembering the Vietnam vets. I am of an age that I know many contemporaries that served in Vietnam. The memorial is amazing! How do you have the time to do all this visiting?
a most wonderful post lisa and the memorial is awesome. your captures are so perfect. what a touching memorial to those who fought.
thanks for taking the time to post this for all of us to see.
hugs
May they all rest in peace!
Very interesting subject.
Sydney - City and Suburbs
What a beautiful memorial!! And such a touching story, as well!!
Nice tour and great shots!
Regina
What a great post! Thank you so much for sharing it with us!
It is beautiful, and now, is on my list of places to see in New Mexico.
Thanks for a wonderful post.
Breath-taking.
Wonderful moving post.
i used to live near washington, dc, and thus know its famous vietnam memorial quite well. I hadn't even heard of this one, so I am particularly thankful to you for sharing you memories and photos.
Hi Lisa! Wow, you guys really do travel around quite a bit. Thanks for sharing all the wonderful pictures and stories!
I wanted to pop over and let you know that you misunderstood what I said about Maple Syrup in Canada! lol...not that it is an important issue or anything:) But...
Canada does produce Maple Syrup!! Loads of it! But I live in Western Canada and the provinces that produce all the Maple Syrup are in the East... so we dont get it cheap out here...basically British Columbians getting it from Ontario, no different than California getting their maple syrup from Vermont!
Very cool story, talk about the love of a father for his son..:-)
Wow. I bet that is quite majestic and breathtaking in person! I love how it flows and soars up to the sky.
Wonderful post Lisa. I visited Angel Fire and the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in the early 2000s. The video room (thankfully) places small boxes of tissues in various areas, and on the chairs. I needed one. Extremely emotional place to visit.
My BF and I stayed in Taos for a week, did a llama trek to the Rio Grande river gorge, and drove around the Enchanted Circle. What a wonderful vacation, one that stays in my mind to this day.
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