Sandoval County Vietnam Veterans Memorial

02/25/2026

On October 16, 2023, we lost SSG Johnnie Lee Cox US Army from Lawton, Oklahoma. Johnnie Cox is the grandfather to my granddaughter's partner Steven Cox. This is a repost due to confusion about the date of Johnnie's death. My apologies for any confusion. We want to extend our condolences to the family for their loss.

01/29/2026

On January 20th 2026 we lost a good friend and an honored member of the Sandoval County Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Victor F. Dimas lost his battle with cancer and now Cindy is left with dealing with her loss and her family's grief.

The Sandoval County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee, which Victor and Cindy were committee members, we want Cindy and her family to know how grateful we are to both of you. We have become friends thru the years, and we are going to miss you Victor, God bless you Cindy and your family.

09/04/2025

03/18/2025

The Sandoval County Vietnam Veterans Memorial has lost one of our Vietnam Veterans. The family of Gilbert Eugene Candelaria and the community laid Gilbert to rest on March 17th 2025, we are so very sorry for your loss.

12/26/2024

Christmas Eve December 24th 2024 the Sandoval County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committe is honoring Susan Rinaldi's tradition of placing Luminarias on the Veterans Memorial. Susan Rinaldi was a strong advocate to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and we want to continue with her tribute to her father who was Killed in Action during WWII. Susan Rinaldi passed away this year, her family and the community has lost a great person, and we are all missing her. God Bless her and her family. We want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

12/06/2024

Bill Loenhorst passed away December 4th 2024, I wanted to post a memorial photo for the Sandoval County Vietnam Veterans Memorial and for his family. His suffering is over and he can now rest in peace.

11/21/2024

This last weekend my family had a gathering in Farmington NM to see families that we haven't seen for a long time. I found out that one of my uncles wife has a cousin in hospice at home in MN and they are on call. We were talking about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and she asked me if I was a praying man, her cousin was in hospice with no hope of recovery and that he had been critically wounded in Vietnam and has struggled with the recovery from his wounds and his battle with PTSD.
I offered to post a photo of Bill Loenhorst from Pipestone MN who is a Vietnam Veteran on the Sandoval County Vietnam Veterans Memorial and ask our Veterans and their families for their blessings and prayers for him and his family. God Bless you Bill Loenhorst.

11/13/2024

November 11th 2024 Veterans Day Ceremony Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus said a prayer for all Veterans and a blessing to their families.

10/22/2024

In October 2024 we lost CPL John Kinsel Sr. USMC WWII Navajo Code Talker he was 107 years old. He spoke during our Veterans Day Ceremony Nov 11th 2017 he was 96 years old at the time and he gave a wonderful presentation about the history of the Navajo Code Talkers and a history of his experiences during WWII. We are very fortunate to have had him here during one of our ceremonies, his talk was recorded here on the SCVVM facebook if you want to listen to his history. It is a sad thing to have lost such a great man, God Bless You CPL John Kinsel Sr, USMC Navajo Code Talker.

10/22/2024

On September 5th 2024 the family and community of Bernalillo lost Orlando Montoya and on September 25th, 2024 family and friends gathered at the Santa Fe National Cemetery to say good bye.
My father Benny Miller and Orlando Montoya grew up together and were both drafted into the US Army for the Korean War. We still consider our families as Primos (cousins). Thank you Orlando, you were a prominent figure in our lives and we are all going to miss you. God Bless you and your family.

07/01/2024

On June 29th 2024 at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Bernalillo, the Town of Bernalillo stood with Susans Rinaldis family to say goodbye. Susan had asked the memorial to honor her father who was killed during WWII, that is when Susan began decorating the memorial with Christmas lumerarios as a way of showing her appreciation for our memorial to her father. We plan to keep her Christmas decorations going in her honor, we are so sorry for your loss we regarded Susan as a friend and we will miss her. God Bless You Susan Rinaldi.