Retired Army Sgt. First Class Christopher Sandos was surprised to learn the enemies he left behind in Vietnam were replaced by others when he came home.
High political tension and protest against the war had reached a breaking point, and Sandos found himself caught in the middle.
“When we came home, we were treated as less than people by our own people,” he said, his eyes welling up with tears. “We found out our enemy wasn’t the ones with guns, it was the ones we loved.”
Years later, Sandos is still processing the pain and sorrow. But a traveling monument — a half-scale model of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. — is designed to reach out to those touched by the Vietnam War in the spirit of healing and forgiveness.
Dubbed “The Wall That Heals,” the traveling monument was placed at Faith Bible Chapel from Wednesday, June 18, to Sunday, June 22. Visitors came to the wall to honor vets, connect with family members or find specific names of the 58,000 dead soldiers whose names are engraved on the wall.
Pastor George Morrison of Faith Bible Chapel said he was proud to have the 250-foot memorial in the city.
“There are hundreds and thousands of stories behind every name on this wall,” he said during a flag ceremony June 19. “We need to appreciate and give respect to those who gave their lives.”
Once a tour guide at the national Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Suzanne Sigona, a Denver-area volunteer with the Wall That Heals, said she has heard countless stories from vets and their family and friends throughout the years.
“I’m always honored people will share with me. It’s a difficult thing to do,” she said, gazing at the line of visitors lingering over the shiny black edifice.
All those years of hearing stories haven’t dulled her to the very real pain associated with the war.
“I was in high school during the war, and every decision we made revolved around it,” she said. “People ask if (volunteers) stop crying. We don’t.”
Veteran William Lewis said he has seen the traveling exhibit a few times but has never made it to the D.C. monument. Each visit brings up a mix of emotions.
“I always like to visit and recall stuff. It helps and it doesn’t help. It stirs up feelings and I get emotional,” he said.
Emotions were high as vets hugged one another, wiped tears from their eyes and stood almost meditatively in front of panels of the wall. One family captured the name of a fallen soldier with a camera phone. In a nearby trailer, visitors looked up information on individual soldiers listed on the wall.
“Some of my friends are on that wall,” Sandos said as a friend comforted him. “To put your butt on the line so we could be free — what a great honor.”
Sandos and Lewis acknowledge the healing process is a lifelong challenge. Lewis said he would leave the monument deep in thought and emotion. Sandos said the wall has helped him heal, even if it stirs up painful memories.
Sandos is proud to say he is a healing minister at Faith Bible Chapel, where he prays with those who are sick or in need of support.
“I’m learning that even at 66, I’m still healing from my wounds,” he said.