VHS VETERANS MEMORIAL
& SCHOLARSHIP FUND
VHS VM & SF INC
VHS Veterans Memorial
The VHS Veterans Memorial & Scholarship Fund was incorporated as a nonprofit in March 2021 by Eli Padilla, Eloy Gómez and David Wilson (all veterans and 1965 Valley High School graduates) and is in good standing with the IRS and the state of New Mexico. An account in the name of the VHS VETERANS MEMORIAL & SCHOLARSHIP FUND, Inc. has been established at NUSENDA FCU at Fourth Street and Guadalupe Trail, NW in Albuquerque.
The following is the list of the young men who attended VHS and who died in or as a direct consequence of their service in Vietnam or Iraq (Please click on the respective photos below to learn more about the 12 young men):
RICHARD E. HEISTER ’59
USMC June 2, 1965
Arlington National Cemetery
Section 4 Site 2952-B
UVALDO SÁNCHEZ ’65
USMC April 21, 1966
Santa Fe National Cemetery
U O 413
Benny Sena ’65
USMC July 25, 1966
Santa Fe National Cemetery
O 0 432
FLORENTINO TAFOYA JR. ’60
USMC November 4, 1967
Santa Fe National Cemetery
Section V Site 1132
KENNETH R. CLOUGH ’65
Army January 7, 1969
Sunset Memorial Park
Section 19, lot 3
JAMES C. AKIN ’01
Army June 3, 2007
Santa Fe National Cemetery
Section 6 Site 3079
LON MICHAEL FLETCHER ’65
Army October 5, 1965
Santa Fe National Cemetery
V, 595
LLOYD L. GOODING ’63
Army September 23, 1966
Fort Scott National Cemetery, KS
2, 0, 1784
STEPHEN M. CARNAHAN ’66
USMC April 2, 1967
Santa Fe National Cemetery
Section V Site 966
ISIDRO S. BAZÁN ’65
Army July 5, 1968
Santa Fe National Cemetery
Section V Site 1285
FREDERICK D. HERRERA ’68
Army MIA March 25, 1969
DANIEL E. TALLOUZI ’02
Army February 28, 2009
Santa Fe National Cemetery
Section 20 Site 1276
The VHS Veterans Memorial has three primary goals:
1. To create a memorial at Valley High School honoring VHS students who died in Vietnam or Iraq. It would also include an individual who returned to the USA from Iraq but died shortly thereafter from combat-related traumatic brain injury. The first goal has been accomplished. The VHS Veterans Memorial was dedicated on Veterans Day, November 11, 2022.
2. To raise money for scholarships honoring these 12 individuals. This will be an ongoing effort that hopefully will grow in the monetary value and number of scholarships awarded.
3. To have these 12 young men recognized by name at the Honors Assembly each May when the winner of the VHS Veterans Memorial Scholarship will be announced.