Editorial: Thumbs Up: Veterans cemetery to fulfill Westphall’s dream
Sangre de Cristo Chronicle
Published: Thursday, April 17, 2014
http://www.sangrechronicle.com/articles/2014/04/17/opinion/editorials/doc534eb76a76321056877601.txt
The late Victor “Doc” Westphall, who founded the Vietnam veterans memorial near Angel Fire, would have been smiling right now.
On Tuesday (April 15), Gov. Susana Martinez announced Angel Fire will be the site of one of four veterans cemeteries that will be built throughout the state. The cemetery is expected to be constructed near Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park, which is a dream come true for Westphall.
Long before Vietnam War veterans received the honor and respect they deserved throughout the United States, Westphall made Angel Fire a place of hope and healing for them. Over the years, Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park has become a mecca for all war veterans. It is a place where they are free to weep, smile and ponder in peace.
The veterans cemetery will be a natural complement to the area. Veterans who have sacrificed their health and wellbeing for our country deserve the honor of being buried in one of the country’s most picturesque valleys next to a monument that will forever honor their dedication and sacrifice.
The cemetery will also add to the many ways our community already serves our country’s veterans. Every year, veterans pass through the area for elk hunts in the mountains, the cross-country motorcycle trek known as Run For The Wall, and the National Wellness and Healing Center’s therapeutic retreats.
Many of those veterans have said they never wanted to leave — and now they don’t have to.
The governor’s decision to build one of the cemeteries in Angel Fire resulted from the tireless work of many people in our community. About a dozen local residents lobbied for the Angel Fire site, and many more supported their efforts by signing petitions and writing letters to state representatives.
We hope this occasion shows people in Angel Fire and the Moreno Valley that good things can happen when the community works together for a common cause, and we applaud the people involved in making the cemetery a reality.
We’re sure Westphall would have appreciated their efforts.