New Mexico

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Las Vegas, New Mexico

Las Vegas, New Mexico is a quiet, historical town.  Not the gambling mecca of Las Vegas, Nevada.  We stayed here, in New Mexico.  I learned more about New Mexico towns and the Mexican influence.

This train engine, built in 1902, was used by the Santa Fe Railroad Company for 51 years.

Love trains

Love trains

It was then given to the city of Las Vegas.  In 1956 it was placed here and the sign says it is on one of the shortest railroads.  I like trains.

The Veterans Park had trees, lots of grass and benches.  This monument is dedicated to all who served, preserving our freedoms.

To the heroes

To the heroes

I, Zeb the duck, like honoring our heroes.

The Mexican heritage of Las Vegas is reflected in the old town plaza.  This is a large plaza, with trees, grass and benches.  We walked to the center of the plaza and the gazebo was very nice.

Gazebos are great

Gazebos are great

Near the gazebo was a plaque about the Santa Fe Trail.  The trail came through Las Vegas.  I saw other sculptures.  This one is by Margarito R. Mondragon and dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrow Parish and Mothers Against Drunk Drivers.

Sculpture in Las Vegas, NM

Sculpture in Las Vegas, NM

New Mexico Highlands University has been in Las Vegas since 1893.  In 1993 the Centennial Alumni Tower was built.  This tower honors all those that have come through the university in the first 100 years.

New Mexico Highlands Unviersity

New Mexico Highlands University Centennial Alumni Tower

Across from the tower I enjoyed two old churches.  The Methodist Church and St. Paul’s Peace Episcopal – Lutheran Church offer peace and continuity to the city.  For more information on Las Vegas, New Mexico, visit http://www.LasVegasNewMexico.com

While in Las Vegas, we stayed at the #1 Super 8 motel in the World.

WOW! Best in the World

WOW! Best in the World

This motel was very clean and had colored towels instead of the standard white and lots of food.  The staff treated us like very important and valued friends.  After checking in, we enjoyed the complimentary soup (3 different kinds) and fresh vegetable salad.  Very nice for us after traveling all day.  Breakfast was hot Belgium waffles (in a crock pot so we did not make a mess making them), two hot cereals, cold cereal, sliced fruit, juice, tea and coffee.  The men in the breakfast area offered warm cinnamon rolls (I love these) and eggs either boiled or poached.  These hosts were better than most waiters.  They brought our beverages, cleaned the tables and cooked.  They brought things before we even knew we wanted them.  WOW!  These guys are great.  When you are in Las Vegas stay at this Super 8 Motel.  You will be happy.

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Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Angel Fire, New Mexico

From Raton, New Mexico, we drove west towards Taos.  Angel Fire is a ski resort area with lakes, campgrounds, lodges and year round recreation.  We were here in the summer, so no snow.  It also has Victor Westphall’s tribute to his son, killed in Vietnam in 1968.  The Peace and Brotherhood Chapel opened in 1971.  Originally funded by David Westphall’s life insurance money and funds from Dr. and Mrs. Westphall, the memorial is now New Mexico’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park, and the only park without an admission fee.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Angel Fire, NM

Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Angel Fire, NM

The wing shaped chapel and memorial rise in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Path to the chapel

Path to the chapel

Within the building is the chapel, a movie room showing an 88-minute documentary featuring letters from Vietnam.  Also visitors may view mementos from the war years, many donated by veterans and their families.  The memorial garden, outside seating for memorials and even Vietnamese soil from the location David Westphall gave his life for his country, encourage reverence for visitors.  This duck proudly sits at the feet of a soldier writing home.

Soldier with letter

Soldier with letter

Also a helicopter from the war rests on grounds.

From the war

From the war

This memorial is a popular stop for Vietnam veterans Run for the Wall motorcycle trip to Washington D.C. and the Vietnam Memorial wall on Memorial Day.  This is also a place for reflection and healing.  Dr. Westphall, before his death on July 22, 2003, spent much time here talking with visiting veterans.  Many sent follow up letters to him, some of which are on display.

As a Colorado traveling duck, I could sense the serenity of this location.  I certainly recommend a visit to all who served, cared about someone that served, or want to learn more of this part of American history.  Half an hour or half a day, any time in this peaceful location will help answer some questions.   Visit http://www.vietnamveteransmemorial.org.    Please visit this memorial.

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Cimarron, New Mexico with Zeb the Duck

Every famous person from the Old West must have taken the Santa Fe Trail to Cimarron, New Mexico.  I believe they all stayed at the St. James Hotel.

St James Hotel, Cimarron, New Mexico

St James Hotel, Cimarron, New Mexico

Wow!  That place is like a living museum of the late 1800s.

Cimarron is on the road between Taos and Raton, New Mexico.  This was once the home of the Anasazi, Jicarilla Apache and Ute Indians.  In the mid to late 1800s the area was the hub of the mining and ranching empire.  Today Cimarron is a quiet, law-abiding town and even is near the Philmont Scout Ranch, for the Boy Scouts of America.

At the center of Cimarron is the St. James Hotel.  Mom and my uncle took forever looking at old photos and reading the history that occurred at the St. James.  Hotel guests included Wyatt Earp, Jesse James, Buffalo Bill Cody, Black Jack Ketchum, Billy the Kid and mom’s favorite from her much younger days, Annie Oakley.  Also author Zane Grey began writing “Fighting Caravans” here (in room 22) and Lew Wallace, former New Mexico Governor wrote part of his novel “Ben Hur” during visits to this area.

St. James Hotel is old and famous

St. James Hotel is old and famous

Made me wish I could read.

The hotel is still a real hotel with a restaurant and bar.  Some believe that ghosts of former guests are still in residence.  This haunted hotel has been featured on major television shows, including the Biography channel and A & E Biography channel.  I did not see any ghosts, but they sure could be there.  The place felt friendly to this duck.

We went to the bar for a drink and to relax.

Drink for Alaska uncle, drink for mom but where is my drink?

Drink for Alaska uncle, drink for mom.  Maybe water for me?

There have been many gunfights at the St. James Hotel.  The old wall panels are now on the ceiling, still full of bullet holes.  Ducks didn’t shoot guns inside restaurants.  Just people did that.  Was an exciting place, but glad we were way too late for any shooting in the bar.  When in the area, stop at the St. James for a meal or a drink and you will get a feel of the Old West.  I liked it a lot.

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NRA Whittington Center at Raton, New Mexico

My humans took me to New Mexico.  The NRA Whittington Center is 33,000 protected acres.

NRA Whittington Center at Raton New Mexico. Zeb and Alaska uncle.

NRA Whittington Center at Raton New Mexico. Zeb and Alaska uncle.

Within the property, we can shoot on several ranges, we can hunt at certain times of the year and in certain areas, we can hike, ride bikes, drive almost abandoned roads, including those through a former coal mining town.

From coal mining town

From coal mining town

This tunnel is left from coal mining operations.

former coal mining area

former coal mining area

We even stopped at the remains of the company store.

Not much shopping here today

Not much shopping here today

We could use primitive campsites, RV campsites with water and electricity or stay in guest accommodations with dining facilities.  My humans got us a room in Raton, New Mexico.

The Whittington Center has Adventure Camps for young men and women.  We were there to celebrate 25 years of Adventure Camp.  One evening we had a chuck wagon dinner in Coal Canyon.  Good food and lots of reminiscing about previous years.  Also enjoyed the beautiful setting, surrounded by mountains and beautiful blue sky.  On the way out of the canyon, we saw these deer.

Deer watching us watch them

Deer watching us watch them

They seemed to enjoy watching us as much as we enjoyed seeing them.

One morning the humans were shooting huge guns on one of the ranges.  My Alaska uncle shot the Barrett 50 caliber rifle

Big gun with big noise

Big gun with big noise

and the 338 Lapua Mag rifle.  He kept one empty shell casing from each rifle.  They are very large.  The noise was so loud; it set off the alarm on our car.  No reason to lock car out there, so that solved the problem.

One afternoon at a different shooting range at the Whittington Center, a representative from Glock Firearms provided Glock pistols and lots of ammunition.  The targets looked like 5 speed limit signs.  The shooters had to shot and hit each target in a certain order.  They were timed on this event.  They shot target one, then two, then five, then four and last target 3.  Two of my humans did this.

Shooting a Glock

Shooting a Glock

My Alaska uncle did very well and my Colorado mom was good.  She hit the targets, but was a little slower than my uncle.  Both did well and had fun.  The humans all wear ear protection, but my duck ears really heard the noise.

When the shooting ranges are not in use, this baby antelope with mom decided it was snack time.

Snack time

Snack time on shooting range

At the final evening banquet, my Alaska uncle won a door prize, eye protection glasses for shooting, or for using power tools.  My Colorado mom has these glasses she uses when cutting branches with a small electric chain saw.   My uncle seems to win a lot of prizes at these conventions.  Previously he won a gun safe and another time, he won a gun.  Mom won nothing.  Lucky she has me.

In the main building, there is a gift shop, of course, and also a really interesting museum.  The Frank Brownell Museum of the Southwest has lots of gun information, lots of American history, lots of New Mexico history, and artifacts from World Wars I and II.  They change the exhibits often, so go and go often.  The Whittington Center is open to the public, not just NRA members.  There is something to interest everyone.  Even Zeb the duck. Stop in soon and see for yourself what this is all about.  For more information visit www.nrawc.org