The Wall That Heals -- West Dundee, True Patriots Care Foundation, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund

The Wall That Heals – a ¾ replica of the original Wall designed by Maya Lin and envisioned by Jan Scruggs located in Washington, D.C. – is in our area again.

The magnitude is just so difficult to take in. The 58,320 names on this traveling Wall gave their lives in service to our country. They did not have a choice. They answered the call, and they never returned.

Death is a part of all wars, but, for the Vietnam veteran in particular, there was no opportunity to mourn, no opportunity to grieve, no opportunity to heal.

I’ve interviewed many Vietnam veterans over the years. Some are willing to share their stories; some, bitter and cautious, hold tight to the hurt and anger, and choose not to share. What has so often resonated with me, however, is that those memories are seared into their mind, and, too often, they had held on to them, keeping them hidden from even those who meant the most to them.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is real and so prevalent in our Vietnam Veterans. I’ve seen it, and it hurts me in the deepest parts of my heart. For those who have put their lives in peril, for those who have saved the lives of others, for those who did the unthinkable, to experience the effects of PTSD for years and years and years… my heart aches. It isn’t pity. I know they are the strongest people I know. But there is deep sorrow … because they do not deserve this.

The Healing Wall brings, hopefully, peace to those who came home but who cannot get to Washington, D.C.  The 375 feet of names etched in the synthetic granite that reflects just like the original running up to 7.5 feet tall is a tangible remembrance of those many who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

I was asked to photograph the Wall as it comes to West Dundee. In my many years writing and photographing, I never tire of photographing the Wall – the poignant memories left, the hands touching the names of those whose loss is felt in their hearts, the stories behind each name, the quiet, the stillness, the power.

I took one of my dear Vietnam veteran friends to the Wall at night. The stillness is both eerie and comforting. I never want to leave it at night. The illumination draws you in, and there is a perfect calm that strikes deep into your soul. I will probably never know if that experience was a healing one for him, but I hope and pray that there was something in that experience that helped to close part of that open wound.

We brought our girls to the Wall as well. I found resources online to prepare them. They each researched two of the names on the Wall – one male name and one female name. I watched as they looked up photos and printed them out, and carefully wrote down the panels and line numbers on which they would find the names of those whose stories they’d read. I’ve also been reading about Fr. Vincent Capodanno, whose cause for canonization is being looked into, and the girls took the rubbings of his name as well. The women who travel with the Wall are absolutely incredible. Nikki and Julianna are the most caring and selfless women. They make you feel like you have been friends forever.

The Village of West Dundee is graciously hosting this traveling Wall – maintained and created by Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. The American Legion Post 679, Dundee-Carpentersville, Illinois and True PatriotsCare Foundation worked tirelessly to get bring this Wall here. Jerry Christopherson, founder of True Patriots Care reached out to me to photograph for them, but, throughout this process and seeing him at the Wall, I have seen the kindness that exudes out of this man. He believes in the power of this Healing Wall. And, I’ve seen the healing as I watch people visiting, touching the names, speaking the names, talking to the men and women who will never be forgotten.

Thank you to everyone who brought this to fruition, to Medal of Honor recipient Allen Lynch who inspired those attending the Opening Ceremonies, to the DMZ Veterans – Janesville who recreated the Three Soldiers Statue, to BraveHearts Mounted Color Guard who came to provide healing through horses, and Frank Duggan and Woodstock Harley-Davidson who hosted a beautiful ceremony before the educational semi carrying the Wall, hauled by Hoekstra Transportation out of Kankakee, left for Randall Oaks Park.

 

The candlelight service is tonight, and you can visit my photography Facebook page to see images from the event.

Welcome home to all of the Vietnam Veterans. We appreciate you.