Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 101 Part 1.djvu/935

 PUBLIC LAW 100-164—NOV. 13, 1987

101 STAT. 905

Public Law 100-164 100th Congress

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Joint Resolution To recognize the Disabled American Veterans Vietnam Veterans National Memorial as a memorial of national significance.

Nov. 13, 1987 [H.J. Res. 97]

Whereas in August, 1968, following the tragic death of their eldest New Mexico. son and brother, First Lieutenant Victor Davis Westphall, III, in the southeast Asian conflict, Dr. and Mrs. Victor Westphall and their younger son, Douglas, began construction of a memorial chapel at Angel Fire Recreation Area, near Eagle Nest, New Mexico, to honor Vietnam veterans; Whereas the chapel was opened in 1971 as a memorial to all Vietnam veterans: the living, the dead, and the maimed in body and spirit; Whereas the Disabled American Veterans and other interested persons have contributed much financial assistance toward the chapel; Whereas in September, 1982, the Disabled American Veterans established a non-profit corporation to improve and perpetuate the chapel; Whereas the chapel was rededicated and named the Disabled American Veterans Vietnam Veterans National Memorial in May, 1983; Whereas the chapel has become known to millions of people in this Nation and abroad through extensive publicity in the national and international news media; Whereas the chapel has inspired the construction of other memorials to Vietnam veterans throughout the United States, including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.; Whereas the chapel has received an award for architectural excellence from the New Mexico Society of Architects; Whereas Dr. Westphall has received the New Mexico Medal of Merit in recognition of his services in connection with the chapel and its programs over the years; Whereas to many persons, especially Vietnam veterans, the chapel is literally sacred; and Whereas the chapel has served for more than 15 years as a national shrine without benefit of an official national designation: Now, therefore, be it

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