Vietnam Veterans Memorial

It's so peaceful. Bricks of our blessed soldiers line the walks as well as the name plates on the wall. A site you have to see. Bring tissues. It got to me and I am a tough old bird. GM

It's a great park. There is a place for kids to play, a nice open field to play catch or kick around a ball, and covered picinic area with grills. But most importantly there are several plaques and monuments with real information about the brave men and women who have severed this country.

My name is Thomas Sotomayor 2nd, designer of this monument and proud son of Thomas Sotomayor Sr. Who’s picture is on the last plaque of this monument “the faces of Vietnam” I designed this monument with a charge of 10% designers fee, a total of $3000 dollars. There are eight plaques on this wall with a center plaque display. The center plaque has the photographs of 398 soldiers that enlisted from the state of New Mexico with their names ranks and city of birth. All 398 did not return from the conflict in Vietnam alive and were enlisted with in the state of New Mexico. I. The center of the plaque assembly is a zia symbol, a symbol of the New Mexico flag and of the Navajo nation. The text which overlays the sun symbol are my word of appreciation to the 398 for the greatest sacrifice a person could offer. My words are to honor their sacrifices and the sacrifices of every military personal that serves this country with honor and dignity. To thank those who sacrifice and suffer for our Benifit, our benifit to live our lives each and everyday while they deploy to lands beyond our borders so that we may live peacefully here at home. So that when I show up to clean the plaques I can allowmy children to run FREELY around the park kicking the soccer ball, instead of worrying about rebel’s attacking, or mortars and other threats preventing them from enjoying and respecting their grandfathers memorial In Peace. The other plaques were designed by a Vietnam veteran from each branch and myself. The plaques are in order: ARMY, MARINES, NAVY, AIRFORCE, COAST GUARD, NATIONAL GUARD, MERCANTILE MARINES, with the final plaque displaying 125 photographs of which were collected over a six- to- eight month period and laid out by myself. The collage arrangement was 100% randomly organized except for my father and my uncle of which I located center mass of the plaque at eye level. Each photograph has name rank and location there were stationed when deployed to Vietnam. Each military branch plaque contains a two page description of that specific branch of military’s role and duties while in conflict during the war. Also covering other key actions, battles, or credited involvement during the war. Along each side of the summary are photographs of actions and/ or equipment, action scenes, maps, or other specific photos related to the war. At very bottom of each plaque are photographs of scenery or other symbolism directly related to that branch of the military’s Involvement, unit patches, Dicision names or other key symbolism. At the top of j plaque there is that branches medallion and generals stars. There are over 700 bricks that were sold during fundraising that anyone purchase. There are six benches surrounding a middle floor plaque in the center of the monument, that plaque displayed key overall statistics of the conflict and a map of the Vietnam country with other informative information displayed. I am truly proud of this monument due to the personal connection I have with my father. I would show every weekend and clean the plaques and play taps for my father and the 398 for the first four years till I moved. The monument has welcomed and thanked those of whom we should never do this to again, the soldiers and sailors and pilots that serverss I the military volunteerally, and those woman who would not be recognized for serving in The war as nurses, serves, or other helpers supporters, and volunteers. We thank you all for the amazing courage and honor you all deserve to sacrifice for us.

Nice place to reflect

I enjoyed the park proud off the military.