I enjoyed my journey to Angel Fire knowing that it was my first trip there and I had decided to make the journey three weeks prior when I had heard that DAV was going to pull the funding on the Memorial and I feared that it would be closed forever. It was a pleasant trip from my home in the West Central mountains of Idaho and I did not keep track of the miles, for miles were of no importance to me on this trip. I also knew that I had unfinished business to take care of and I was alone and scared not knowing the outcome of this journey. I had landed at Eagle Nest, New Mexico which is the closest town to Angel Fire and Angel Fire is only 9 miles down the road from Eagle Nest. I drove through the entrance of two white stone symmetrical shaped pieces of stone ( they are in the photo tour section) and started feeling a warmth. It was a very cold afternoon probably 25 degrees and a swooping wind out of the west that came down the west mountain range to the valley floor which the valley is 8,250 ft. in elevation. The mountains make the setting very majestic and bring out the fine qualities of Dr. Westphall's memorial to his son David. The place was solace as no one was around even though I saw several vehicles in the upper parking lot, of which I found out on my return trip---I will tell that part later on.

I started taking photo's outside but could only endure the chill factor so long that I headed for shelter which was the chapel. I felt funny going in but knowing I was in a chapel it could be a place of no harm. I saw the twelve photo's of our deceased Brothers and a new set of photo's goes up every month with the synopsis of each Brother or Sister on the podium that stands at one end of the photo's on the wall. David, Dr. Westphall's son is the only exception to the rule and David's photo stays up at all times.

I started moving around changing disk's as I was shooting pictures and I had shot the chapel from front to back and back to front. I was still in awe about the visitors center closing by DAV and I could not handle the torment of a Historical Marker and Memorial site for us Veterans being evacuated so the only thing I knew to do was pray. I was somber in my prayer and I had to lay my whole feeling and faith into it the the Lord would fix this mess for us so I laid hands the wall and completed my task.

Then the next phase was to sit down I was still cold but the chapel was warm and my legs were going numb due to back and knee problems so I was force to sit down before I fell down. I sat and stared at the cross and wreath and the devotional candles that sat on the floor asking my self what was next. I came here on a mission just like Martin and Holiday sing in their songs but what was the mission. I asked God to lay it on me be happy or sad and He did. My life flashed before me, and I mean all of my life and it was a good feeling but the part of my life that came slow was Viet Nam and that played in slow motion just like it played out for me and you counting the days one by one. I had thought that my mind had gotten stuck in a freeze frame and I was not going to be able to exit. It was erie but I knew once again that I was in safe hands and unlike the nightmares and flashbacks this was a good tape playing for a change because it did not hurt.

This one lone hour seemed like many as my mind was trying to work out matters and I found out the best way was to leave it alone and let it run because the harder I tried to think things the more complicated it got, so it was time to lay it down. I came to my sense's hoping no one was above me on the walkway watching because I cannot recall very much of this experience. I had notice that my pants were wet in the thigh area and when I looked down there were little puddles all over reflecting the light through the chapel window. They were puddles of fear, hate, anger and many more names that I could see labeled on them and then I understood the mission to Angel Fire as my C O had completed the task of a Sit Rep..There was a tranquillity at Angel Fire of a spiritual haven. I know we all have many different Religious beliefs and some of us have none but if you have not ever been to Angel Fire it is a place to lay it down for even one that may not have beliefs of some sort will feel a spiritual cleansing..

Yes, I am grateful for Veterans Day 1998 and having the whole place to myself and it was suppose to turn out this way for me. Being a Memorial and Historical Marker I thought before I landed at Angel Fire that I would meet Veterans from all era's and all area's and make some new friends from the brotherhood, but that was not the case. I left at ease when I departed and felt refreshed after driving so many miles that I finished my destination down south in the warmth before returning home.