It can’t be missed as you wind along US 64 in the Moreno Valley of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. Here in Angel Fire, New Mexico, a tiny town known better for its year round resorts, a white wing-shaped building perches high on a hilltop.

This is the chapel at Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park, built in 1971 by D. Victor Westphall for his son David. David Westphall was a 1st lieutenant in the Marine Corps who was killed in action on May 22, 1968. Fifteen men died with him that day.

The chapel at Angel Fire was the first major memorial created to honor the veterans of the Vietnam War, and inspired the more famous Memorial in Washington DC which was completed over ten years later. In November 1987, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed it a national memorial.

This stunning structure is dedicated to all Vietnam War casualties and well worth the side trip from Albuquerque, Santa Fe or Taos. The site in Angel Fire was chosen because of its startling familiarity to a place in David’s favorite childhood book, Wings For Per.

The winged walls of the chapel are architecturally designed to capture the sound of the wind swooping up from the Moreno Valley far below. Inside, photographs of thirteen Vietnam War dead are continuously on display. Illuminated by soft candlelight, they are rotated every month alphabetically by state. The one of David Westphall is permanently on display.

Inside the visitor center, there is a collection of 1600 photographs of Vietnam servicemen killed in action. Every photo is cross-referenced and categorized by name and year so visitors can easily find friends or loved ones. Over the years, visitors have contributed photo albums and individual items of memorabilia which are also on display.

A Huey helicopter that saw action in Vietnam sits outside the Chapel. There is also a Veterans’ Memorial Walkway and gift shop.