May 31 – June 26, 2019
Balloons Over Angel Fire
Unknown to us when we made our reservations, Angel Fire holds an annual Balloons Over Angel Fire event during Father’s Day weekend. We felt fortunate to be able to experience a hot air balloon event in a smaller setting with fewer crowds than somewhere like Albuquerque. Approximately 40 balloons participated in the three day event.
We were up early for the first day so that we would be parked and ready for the scheduled 7 a.m. ascent. The launch site was the Angel Fire Airport about a 5 minute drive away from the campground. Upon arrival, we joined a group listening to the pilot briefing. Unfortunately that briefing included the words “we’re going to call it for today due to weather”. Wait, what?? It was a beautiful sunny day! Apparently the organizers were concerned about the upper-level winds which can change dramatically due to the mountains. They left it open for any of the ballooners to set up static or tethered displays and, since several did, we were able to get some close-up photos.
For the second day, we opted to get up a bit later and drive to a parking area about halfway between the RV park and the airport. From there, we could avoid the traffic and still have a good view. This day, the winds were favorable and they launched!!
After watching from a distance and determining the direction of flight, we drove into town where we were able to catch a mountain backdrop and eventually watch some of the balloons descend.
We had a great time watching the event. Unfortunately the Balloon Glow scheduled for the second night was cancelled. We bailed on the third day in favor of sleeping in and checking out the local farmers market – the first of the season.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park
On another day we went to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park located off of US 64 in Angel Fire. This park is currently the only state park dedicated exclusively to veterans of the Vietnam War.
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
Marine First Lieutenant David Westphall was among sixteen young men in his unit killed in an ambush on May 22, 1968 near Con Thien in South Vietnam. His parents, Victor and Jeanne Westphall who lived in Angel Fire, decided to use their son’s life insurance policies to build the Peace and Brotherhood Chapel. Resembling a sail, the Chapel sits on the hillside overlooking the Moreno Valley. It was dedicated on May 22, 1971, the 3rd anniversary of the death of their son. This was the first major memorial created to honor the veterans of the Vietnam War, and it inspired the establishment of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.
Ownership of the Memorial was turned over to the Disabled American Veterans in 1982. In 1985, the DAV broke ground on a badly needed Visitor Center designed primarily as an underground structure so as not to detract from the Chapel. From the valley floor all that is visible is the chapel and the flag triad. Today the Visitor Center contains a media room, display rooms for themed memorabilia and informational panels, a computer room and library, a conference room and a gift shop.
Also on the grounds are the Veterans Memorial Walkway lined with bricks commemorating all U.S. veterans, Memorial gardens, an amphitheater, the gravesites of Jeanne and Victor Westphall, and an actual Huey helicopter.
The memorial maintains a UH-1D model Huey helicopter known originally as “Viking Surprise,” one of the first smokeships used in Vietnam. On March 26, 1967, the helicopter, while rescuing service personnel, was so badly damaged – 135 bullet holes – that it was returned to the United States for repairs. The copter returned to Vietnam and was later sent to the New Mexico National Guard, which donated it to the Angel Fire memorial. — wikipedia
If you ever find yourself in Angel Fire be sure to visit this memorial. It’s very well done and brings back a lot of memories for those of us old enough to remember this conflict. If you are a biker you might want to check this out.
The Run for the Wall riders make Angel Fire and Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park one of their first stops on their trip to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. Up to 500 motorcycles visit the Memorial on Friday the weekend before Memorial Day. Also, starting in 1981, there has been a motorcycle rally from the nearby town of Red River, New Mexico every Memorial Day weekend. Most of the riders visit the Memorial during the rally. — wikipedia
