Huey pilots and crews honored on Veterans Day

BY MICHAEL JOHNSTONE
Staff writer

ANGEL FIRE — The Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park honored America’s veterans in a special ceremony, entitled Helicopters of the Vietnam War, Tuesday, Nov. 11.
Hundreds of area residents and guests from afar showed up to honor America’s veterans during the program, which was dedicated not only to the pilots who flew during the Vietnam War, but also to the helicopters’ crews, medics, builders, designers, mechanics and troops.
At precisely 11 a.m., a Bell UH-1, or Huey, from the New Mexico National Guard flew across the crisp blue skies over the distinct white curves of the memorial.
Due to the cool and often unpredictable weather, the ceremony was moved inside to the exhibit area of the visitor’s center.
Tom Turnbull, Park Manager of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park, praised and acknowledged the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 318, the New Mexico Veterans Motorcycle Association, the David Westphall Veterans Association and the Angel Fire Fire Department for their assistance with the ceremony.
He then welcomed the president of the foundation, Chuck Howe. who reminded the audience of the need to support the veterans of the Vietnam War, the Iraq War, and the Afghanistan War. Howe then presented former foundation president, Chuck Hasford, with a plaque in honor of his dedication to the foundation. The plaque is inscribed, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Hasford spoke fondly and emotionally of Dr. Victor Westphall, stating, “He has given the world something to remember, and it is here.”
Kate German, Heritage Director of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park, described the research she has done on the Huey standing outside of the memorial, which led to this year’s theme. It was a smoke-screen helicopter, which would provide a cover for evacuations and other operations through smoke created by fuel ejected from a ring of nozzles surrounding the exhaust.
Jim Thorne, master of ceremonies for the day’s events, was a Huey helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War. He explained the history of Veterans Day, which began in 1938 as Armistice Day, celebrating the end of World War I on Nov. 11, 1918. Armistice Day was dedicated to world peace. Thorne noted the name was officially changed to Veterans Day in 1954.
Thorne introduced Thomas Payne and Mike Law from the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, who spoke of the history of helicopters in the United States Armed Forces, and of the brave Americans whose lives were changed because of them during the Vietnam War.
Throughout the ceremony the Cimarron High School Band played appropriately patriotic songs, including God Bless America.

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