With 58,000 names inscribed on polished black granite, virtually every American is familiar with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., built in 1982. However, what many may not know is that there was another memorial built years beforehand to honor the Service Members and Veterans of the Vietnam War.
Indeed, before there was the infamous “Wall” in our nation’s capital, the first Vietnam Memorial in the U.S. was built in Angel Fire, New Mexico, by Dr. Victor and Mrs. Jeanne Westphall to honor their son, Lt. Victor David Westphall III, and 15 other U.S. Marines who died with him when ambushed in Con Thien, Vietnam, on May 22, 1968. Construction on the memorial started later that year. Upon its completion nearly three years later, it was recognized by Congress as a ‘memorial of national significance’ and served as inspiration for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The photographer of the nation’s first major Vietnam War memorial, as shown below, is Kee Adams Evans, a member of Democrats Abroad Guatemala and Democrats Abroad’s Global Veterans and Military Families Caucus. This photo was taken on August 12, 2023.
U.S. citizens living abroad, both civilian and military, are highly encouraged to check your voter registration status and request your ballot for any upcoming elections in your home voting state that you are eligible to vote in.
The VMF Caucus, proudly consisting of veterans, military family members, Department of Defense civilians, and strong allies of veterans and military family causes, has a membership of over 1,400 members located in dozens of countries.
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