Angel Fire is a village in Colfax County, New Mexico. It is a popular ski resort destination, with a base elevation of 8,600 feet and a summit of 10,677 feet with over 500 acres of slopes. Angel Fire and nearby communities experience very cold winter temperatures and mild temperatures in the summer.
To the north, off U.S. Route 64, is Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park, begun by the family of fallen United States Marine David Westphall, who was killed in the Vietnam War on May 22, 1968.

Following the death of their son, U.S. Marine Corps First Lieutenant Victor David Westphall III, Jeanne and Dr. Victor Westphall began construction of the Vietnam Veterans Peace and Brotherhood Chapel to honor the memory of their son and the fifteen men that died with him near Con Thien, South Vietnam on May 22, 1968.
Building a memorial to honor Vietnam Veterans was not popular during this time; the country was still involved in an increasingly unpopular war in Vietnam. However, the Westphall family persevered, relying primarily on its own financial resources.

The purpose of the David Westphall Veterans Foundation is to honor America's veterans and members of its military forces by memorializing the sacrifices they have made and by recognizing the sense of duty and the courage they have displayed as they answered their country's call to arms.

The memorial was originally known as the Vietnam Veterans Peace and Brotherhood Chapel and had its origins in a battle near Con Thien, South Vietnam in which 16 men lost their lives. Among the men, was David Westphall, son of Victor and Jeanne Westphall. Thanks to their vision and determination the memorial exists today to honor not only these 16 Marines but all members of America's armed forces.

"When sons or daughters die in battle, parents are confronted with the choice of what they will do to honor the courage and sacrifice of that son or daughter. Following the death of our son, Victor David Westphall, on May 22, 1968, in Vietnam, we decided to build an enduring symbol of the tragedy and futility of war." Dr. Victor Westphall

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park sits on 30 acres of land surrounded by the beautiful Moreno Valley landscape.

This image was taken on my last visit to Angel Fire on July 1, 2019

Furture site of Angel Fire National Veteran Cemetery. This image was taken on my last visit to Angel Fire on July 1, 2019

This image was taken on my last visit to Angel Fire on July 1, 2019

The grave sites of Jeanne and Victor Westphall.

UH-1D 64-13670 Huey Helicopter. The Bell Iroquois UH-1 (Huey) is the most widely used helicopter in the world and its distinguished service in Vietnam also makes it the most recognized. This aircraft was brought to Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park by the New Mexico National Guard in May 1999.

The Chapel was dedicated on May 22, 1971, the 3rd anniversary of the death of 1st Lt. David Westphall. It was the first major memorial created to honor the veterans of the Vietnam War, and inspired the establishment of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., which was completed over ten years later, in 1982.

Victor "Doc" Westphall dedicated his life to the Memorial. He lived in an apartment on site, and his entire purpose was honoring his son and the more than 58,000 others who died in Vietnam. He reached out to the families that had lost their loved ones, and welcomed home the "maimed in body and spirit". In his own words, "We who must will do what we can to encourage humankind to preserve rather than to destroy."

Victor David Westphall III, called David, was born in 1940 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Victor and Jeanne Westphall. He has one younger brother, Walter Douglas. He was raised in Albuquerque, NM. David loved football and excelled in track, breaking 9.7 seconds in the 100 yd. sprint during his freshman year at UNM in 1958. David left UNM in 1959 to join the Marines. During his tour of duty as an enlisted man from 1959 - 1963, he served part of his time with the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Division, Bravo Company. He later obtained a degree in Spanish from the University of Montana in 1966.

David rejoined the Marines in 1967. "At the time he made his decision the United States had 385,000 men in South Vietnam and was irretrievably committed there. ..."
He viewed this challenge as a task calling for voluntary dedication, and was willing to do his part. He wrote: 'My fellow citizens pay the taxes to support me, and I intend to be worth the pay.' As matters developed he was to give even his life to earn his pay. " - David's Story: A Casualty of Vietnam.
David was commissioned in March of 1967. Of the 824 candidates who started the course, 573 finished. Of these, he ranked eleventh. Soon after starting the course he put in for infantry duty in Vietnam.
Upon arriving in Vietnam, David was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Division, with Bravo Company. The same Battalion in which he had served as an enlisted man a few years before. Now, David was assigned as a platoon leader.

Governor Bill Richardson saw the value in helping preserve this unique memorial and on Veterans Day 2005 the site became the Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park.

There were three conditions to this transfer. First, if the state ever decides to cease operating it as a state park, the site reverts to the DWVF. Second, the foundation didn’t want visitors to pay to visit the memorial. This is the only state park in New Mexico that does not charge a fee.

Find up-to-date event data and other info about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the David Westphall foundation at the calendar and community buttons on the Angle Fire App.
The FREE Angle Fire App. Is available for both Android and Apple app. Stores.

On Memorial Day 2003, Taos artist Doug Scott dedicated his interpretation of a soldier's dilemma of writing home from war. This life-size statue depicts an American infantryman in the field. A small ammo box is the best chair he can find, and his helmet is the best backing available for writing a letter to his parents. What can he say about what he's doing that they will understand?

The foundation assists the park with this budget shortfall through their fundraising efforts. Lastly, is the very unique condition that the chapel remains open 24 hours a day. When Doc Westphall was building the chapel, he began locking the doors at night. One morning when he returned he discovered a note had been scrawled on a piece of scrap plywood. It said, “Why did you lock the doors when I needed to come in?” Since then the doors have never been locked.

As a result of the partnership between the Foundation and State Parks, renovations and improvements can now be made. The amphitheater was the first of these. The Phase I project also included a new roof, stucco and furnace for the chapel. Phase II improvements for renovation of the Visitor Center were completed in 2010.

This image was taken on my last visit to Angel Fire on July 1, 2019

The Chapel - During the building phase, Dr. Westphall, from force of habit, locked the entrance door to the Chapel each evening. One morning he found a message written on a piece of scrap plywood that asked, "Why did you lock me out, when I needed to come in?" Since that time, the Chapel doors have never been locked. The Chapel is a place of reflection. All veterans who cross its threshold find a place of peace, honor, and comfort.

Killed in the Ambush of 5/22/1968 were: Cpl. Denver Joseph Berkheimer, Sgt. Roger William Boyd, PFC. Davis Freeman Brown, PFC. Alejandro Diaz, PFC. William Bernard Hamacher, PFC. Clyde Randall Hamby, Captain Robert Eugene Harris, L/Cpl. Rolando R. Hernandez, L/Cpl. Duane Frank Horgan, PFC. James E. Joshua, Jr., L/Cpl. Charles S. Kirkland, Jr., PFC. Christopher Landis Kurtz, PFC. Jerry Allen Longtine, PFC. Michael Walter Williams, PFC. Ray Williams and 1st Lt. David Westphall

Inside the Visitors Center is a Gift Shop, media room showing the HBO documentary Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam, a veterans room honoring those KIA and MIA and a photo gallery room. The Visitors Center and Gift Shop are open 7 days a week 9:00 am. to 5:00 pm.

Visitors Center - The Memorial is unique not just because it was the first effort on a national scale to memorialize Vietnam veterans. Among it other distinctions, it was the first Vietnam memorial to show not just the names of deceased Vietnam veterans but also to display pictures of those dead veterans in cases where the family had supplied a picture for display.

Another major distinction for the Memorial is that for most of its history it has included a unique visitors center that incorporates displays and photographs that have been an invaluable supplement to the Chapel. The underground visitor center was begun in 1985 and completed in 1986.

It is underground so as not to distract from the magnificent architectural lines of the Chapel. The visitor center has served as a valuable place where veterans can share their experiences and memories with fellow veterans and with family members. It has a truly valuable power to heal and to educate.

The original design of the visitor center was very successful but a few years ago it was decided after 20-years the interior of the building needed to be updated and reconfigured. In conjunction with that, the area of the building was increased from 6,000 to 8,000 square feet.

The new design has provided NM State Parks with additional valuable archive space, work space and storage space. In addition to rest rooms and office space, the major features of the new visitor center are a video room, display rooms for themed memorabilia and informational panels, a computer room and library, a conference room and space for the Foundation's gift shop.

The visitor center continues to be a valuable supplement to the Chapel and Memorial grounds. Together, they provide a unique place for gaining insight into the Vietnam War and a valuable resource for healing of veterans and families. - Walter Westphall

Since World War II, more than 82,000 U.S. service personnel are unaccounted for.

"You Are Not Forgotten" This image was taken on my last visit to Angel Fire on July 1, 2019

This Memorial is home to the Chapel, the Visitors Center, an authentic Huey helicopter which saw action in Vietnam during the war, the Veterans Memorial Walkway, a Gift Shop, Memorial Gardens, an amphitheater, as well as the grave sites of Jeanne and Victor Westphall. The Memorial welcomes over 45,000 visitors annually.