Las Cruces, New Mexico, Chapter 431:
Names & Faces Etched in Marble

BY JIM HARBISON

Vietnam veterans and community volunteers recently finished the construction of the Vietnam War Memorial in Veterans Park in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Construction began in January 2015. It was completed with the installation of a Huey helicopter and dedicated in March of this year. Construction began after the state of New Mexico pledged an $80,000 grant. VVA Chapter 431 conducted many fundraising activities to finance this tribute to “Heroes Never Thanked.”

This unique memorial contains twenty-one black marble panels etched with the names and photographs of the 398 New Mexicans who lost their lives in Vietnam. Eight large black marble panels are dedicated to each of the services, along with a photo panel of veterans who served in Vietnam. The narratives and photos on these panels were prepared by veterans who served in Vietnam and reflect the history of that war from the perspectives of those who served.

In the center of the memorial is a large map of Vietnam surrounded by bricks engraved with the names of Vietnam-era veterans. Six granite benches surround the map. At the base of the stone walls is the Ring of Honor, which contains more than six hundred additional bricks honoring Vietnam veterans.

Hovering above the memorial is a UH-1H Huey helicopter (tail #15285)—also a Vietnam veteran. It took members of the Vietnam Memorial Committee more than six months to rebuild the Huey. Its navigation lights are illuminated at night.