Vanderwagen has big plans to honor veterans

Patrick Aurthur looks out the hogan door at the veterans park he is building in Jones Ranch. Volunteers work on the park and most of the materials have been donated. Aurthur is going to build a ceramic wall with names inscribed on it to honor deceased veterans and there will be space to perform ceremonies for soldiers who are leaving and returning from service. [Photo by John A. Bowersmith/Independent]

By Bill Donovan
Staff Writer

GALLUP — For years, Patrick Arthur wanted to find a way that the community of Vanderwagen could honor members of the community who have served in the Armed Services.

So, about a month ago, his family as well as others in the community began building a memorial park near their homes to honor not only veterans from their own area but from other areas of the county and Navajo Reservation as well.

Working at night, on weekends and whenever they could find a little time, the community members have been preparing a track of land on Jones Ranch Road, about four miles west of David Skeets School, to become the community's own memorial to those who served thiscountry.

A Vietnam veteran himself, Arthur said he knows the importance of having one's service to his or her country honored and that's why, some 15 years ago, he and others in the community looked at erecting some sort of memorial to those who served, especially during times of armed conflict.

A month ago, Arthur and others decided if anything was going to happen, they would have to start developing that memorial, even though they have no funds except what they received in donations from area residents.

Using these funds and a lot of volunteer labor, they cleared an area near a hogan that had not been used in years and established pathways and a circle that they enclosed and then installed three flagposts.

It's a simple memorial now but Arthur has grand hopes for the future, even if the only funds the project gets is from area donations.

In the coming months, as more funds become available, Arthur said he would like to create a wall somewhat similar to the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington, D.C. but including the names of everyone in the area and even some people outside this area who have died in the service of their country.

"The whole community is excited about the project," he said, adding he has no trouble finding volunteers to help keep the site clean or to help in developing one or the other sections of the area.