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A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO

INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO AWARD DR. VICTOR WESTPHALL A

CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL IN RECOGNITION OF HIS SERVICE TO THE

UNITED STATES.

WHEREAS, in order to honor those who fought and died in

the Vietnam war, and to give the survivors a spiritual home,

Dr. Victor Westphall built the Vietnam veterans peace and

brotherhood chapel, which would later become the Vietnam

veterans national memorial state park at Angel Fire; and

WHEREAS, in building the Vietnam veterans peace and

brotherhood chapel, Dr. Westphall honored the courage and

sacrifice of his own son, Victor David Westphall, III, who

gave his life in the Vietnam war; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Westphall built the Vietnam veterans peace

and brotherhood chapel in 1968, a period in which the nation

was divided over the war being fought by the United States in

Vietnam; and

WHEREAS, Americans in 1968 were deeply divided over the

Vietnam war, while the soldiers returning from the Vietnam

war were often shunned and scapegoated as blameworthy for the

United States' policies in southeast Asia; and

WHEREAS, in being the first to build a memorial honoring

those who had fallen in the service of their country,

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Dr. Westphall bravely made a stand in the name of honor

during a time of great social unrest; and

WHEREAS, the congressional gold medal is the nation's

most distinguished award given to civilians, and it is an

honor befitting Dr. Westphall's acts of outstanding

principle, courage and service in building the Vietnam

veterans peace and brotherhood chapel;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the members of the New Mexico

congressional delegation be requested to introduce

legislation to award the congressional gold medal to Dr.

Victor Westphall in recognition of his great service to the

nation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the members of the New Mexico congressional

delegation and to Governor Richardson.