“The word advent means “coming.” In this season of the year, we focus on the meaning of the coming of the Son of God into the world.
Jesus came into the world at the first Advent, and every Advent since is a reminder of his continual advent into more and more lives. And that advent is, in fact, our advent—our coming, our moving into the lives of those around us and into the peoples of the world.”
Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday of May in the U.S., honors those who died serving in the armed forces. In 2014, we visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Angel Fire, New Mexico, to participate in a remembrance service and view an engraved brick .
updated May 25, 2025
The United States celebrates Memorial Day on the last Monday of May, a day set aside to remember people who died while serving in the armed forces, although many families use it to remember other deceased loved ones also.
Memorial Day 2014 was special and unique for my husband and me.
We had planned a trip to New Mexico, not realizing we would be there on Memorial Day. I was attending a medical conference. We wanted to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Angel Fire.
Since my husband is a Vietnam Veteran, I had ordered a brick engraved with his name to be laid on the walkway there. We wanted to see it, and decided to go on Memorial Day, to join the special remembrance service they have on that day.
It was a chilly overcast day, not what we expected for late May. Fittingly, the rain held off until the ceremony ended, then it poured down. I took all of the photos in this post.
on the memorial grounds, the chapel in the background
In the background, I am kneeling to view Raymond’s brick
Inside the chapel, which is never locked; it is open for anyone to enter at any time
A flag and plaque were presented to the family of a fallen soldier
A local military reserve unit provided music.
On an earlier trip Raymond met with the late Dr. Westphall, who founded the memorial in honor of his son David, who died in Vietnam.
“The purpose of the David Westphall Veterans Foundation is to honor America’s veterans and members of its military forces by memorializing the sacrifices they have made and by recognizing the sense of duty and the courage they have displayed as they answered their country’s call to arms.”
Sharing the HEART of remembrance
Thanks for sharing the Angel Fire Memorial with us. If you are ever in northeast New Mexico, don’t miss visiting the memorial, museum, and veterans cemetery which has been added since our last visit. You can also visit nearby Taos and the Taos Pueblo.
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