Our next stop was the Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park on the Enchanted Circle.
The memorial was started with the building of The Vietnam Veterans Peace & Brotherhood Chapel to honor the memory of US Marine Corps First Lt. Victor David Westfall III and the 16 men that died with him near Con Thien, South Vietnam on May 22, 1968. It was the first major memorial to be created to honor the veterans of the Vietnam War. It inspired the creation of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC in 1982. Eventually a foundation called the David Westfall Veterans Foundation was created. It is presently managed by the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services.
In 1982 the Disabled American Veterans made a commitment for funds and ownership was turned over to them. In 1985 they broke ground on the Visitor Center and purchased 25 acres of ground.
In 1998 ownership was returned to the foundation.
In 2005 it became a state park.
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