A Letter From Chuck Howe, President, David Westphall Foundation
Spirit of Angel Fire
The summer of 2015 has been magnificent here in Angel Fire. Green grass and flowers are everywhere from the abundance of rain. The Memorial grounds look outstanding as a result of the efforts by the Angel Fire Garden Club and the State Park staff.
Run For The Wall stopped by the Memorial on May 15 on their way to Washington D. C. to participate in Memorial Day ceremonies. Memorial Day was extremely well attended. Our keynote speaker was Dr. Louis Sorley whose topic was Pride and Sorrow: Reflections on the Vietnam War.
The David Westphall Veterans Foundation staff, Board members and volunteers have completed scanning all of the KIA photographs. They will soon be accessible on the Foundation website. Copies will be placed on display and the originals will be preserved.
Members of the Westphall Board of Directors worked with New Mexico State Parks staff and developed a list of repair and maintenance items needed to protect the State’s investment in the Park. Governor Martinez funded $100, 000 from her budget and 18 members of the New Mexico Senate and House funded $202,500 from their individual allocations. Work on these items will start soon.
Angel Fire is one of four Rural Veterans Cemeteries to be funded in New Mexico by the Veterans Administration. It will be open to all veterans from all states. Work is expected to start in 2017. The cemetery will be located immediately south of the Chapel.
Brick laying is scheduled for September 5. We have over 300 red bricks and eight Medal of Honor recipient bricks for the Run For The Wall personnel to lay. Initial ceremonies will start at 9:00 AM.
Currently Hiroshi “Hershey” Miyamura, Medal of Honor recipient, Korean conflict, from Gallup, New Mexico plans to attend the brick laying.
The individual, Red Eagle Rael in the large J. D. Challenger painting “Ashes to Dust” available in the Foundation gift shop has been located in New Mexico and will be autographing posters that the gift shop will make available for sale. See the website for more details in the future.
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