My best friend in Albuquerque is also a Vietnam Veteran. He and I are the same age, and often take roads trips to get away from work and family.
We decided to take a short road trip a few years back to Angel Fire, New Mexico, and visit the Vietnam Veterans National Memorial.
The Memorial was built by the father of a Vietnam Veteran. Dr. David Westphal lost his son in Vietnam in 1968. He built the original memorial with his own hands as a personal tribute tribute to his lost son.
Little did Dr. Westphal know what he started.
Or, maybe he did.
The Memorial sits atop a hill overlooking one of the the most spectacular views in New Mexico. A vast valley surrounded by beautiful mountain peaks in every direction. We were blessed with a lot of snow that past winter and spring. The blue green of the prairie grasses carpeted the valley, accentuated by the wildflowers blooming in every color of the rainbow.
The mountains all around were a deepr, dark green, and the whole scene was reminiscent of sitting on a fire base in Vietnam.
But the most striking part was the intense quiet. The only sounds were a gentle wind blowing out of Taos Canyon.
And if you listen carefully,...... you can hear the voices in the wind.
As you sit on the side of the hill, you begin to hear voices from the past, ......carried by the winds.
The tears come, but they are not the tears of the Wall. They are different tears. They are the tears you have when you finally find a long lost friend....and have a chance to catch up on life.
The beauty of the scene reminds you of the beauty of life.
So you talk to the voices, and let them know how much you owe them. You let them know that you are all right, and thank them for giving you the beauty of this moment, and giving you your life.
You let them know you finally went to college, or got married. You let them know about your wonderful children, and that it wouldn't have happened without their sacrifice.
The most fitting place for a memorial I have ever seen.
Vietnam Veteran or not, if you ever get to New Mexico, you must visit this beautiful place.
You may get tears in your eyes, but you will leave with a smile on your face that only God and those guy's can give you.
And you will know why Dr. Westphal chose that spot.
And you will hear the voices on the wind..................the voices of Angel Fire.
We decided to take a short road trip a few years back to Angel Fire, New Mexico, and visit the Vietnam Veterans National Memorial.
The Memorial was built by the father of a Vietnam Veteran. Dr. David Westphal lost his son in Vietnam in 1968. He built the original memorial with his own hands as a personal tribute tribute to his lost son.
Little did Dr. Westphal know what he started.
Or, maybe he did.
The Memorial sits atop a hill overlooking one of the the most spectacular views in New Mexico. A vast valley surrounded by beautiful mountain peaks in every direction. We were blessed with a lot of snow that past winter and spring. The blue green of the prairie grasses carpeted the valley, accentuated by the wildflowers blooming in every color of the rainbow.
The mountains all around were a deepr, dark green, and the whole scene was reminiscent of sitting on a fire base in Vietnam.
But the most striking part was the intense quiet. The only sounds were a gentle wind blowing out of Taos Canyon.
And if you listen carefully,...... you can hear the voices in the wind.
As you sit on the side of the hill, you begin to hear voices from the past, ......carried by the winds.
The tears come, but they are not the tears of the Wall. They are different tears. They are the tears you have when you finally find a long lost friend....and have a chance to catch up on life.
The beauty of the scene reminds you of the beauty of life.
So you talk to the voices, and let them know how much you owe them. You let them know that you are all right, and thank them for giving you the beauty of this moment, and giving you your life.
You let them know you finally went to college, or got married. You let them know about your wonderful children, and that it wouldn't have happened without their sacrifice.
The most fitting place for a memorial I have ever seen.
Vietnam Veteran or not, if you ever get to New Mexico, you must visit this beautiful place.
You may get tears in your eyes, but you will leave with a smile on your face that only God and those guy's can give you.
And you will know why Dr. Westphal chose that spot.
And you will hear the voices on the wind..................the voices of Angel Fire.
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