Lewis finishes walk for the fallen
Linda Sappington
The last day of Lewis' walk was a short 7-mile hike from Alexandria, Virg. to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.
Linda Sappington
With less than a mile to go on his 3,300-mile journey, Lewis crosses the Arlington Memorial Bridge.
Linda Sappington
Lewis walks past the Washington Monument and reflecting pool.
Linda Sappington
With less than half a mile to go on his 3,300-mile journey, Lewis passes by the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Linda Sappington
At Marine Sgt. Chuck Lewis’ final destination, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, he placed several objects at the request of folks he met along the way; a dreamcatcher, challenge coins, and even a shell casing containing the ashes of a veteran who passed away in 2011. He then made a pencil rubbing of a Ridgecrest, Calif., classmate who was killed in battle during the 1960s.
Linda Sappington
With the walk across America completed, Lewis rests on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Linda Sappington
Lewis named his cross-country walk "Walking for the Fallen."
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Five months, 26 days, 3,300 miles, and three pairs of shoes after setting out from Everett, Wash., Marine Corps Sgt. Chuck Lewis arrived on foot with his wife and nine other supporters at the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C. at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23.
Lewis began pushing a 150-pound cart decorated with patriotic flags on March 31 to raise awareness about veteran suicide. Lewis felt compelled to make the journey after a local Marine took his own life less than a month after he returned home from serving his country.
“(The walk was about) bringing awareness and letting people know there is help available, but you might have to know where to look for it,” Lewis said. “If one life is saved by this, the whole walk will have been worth it, but I’ll likely never know if it was.”
During the journey Lewis spoke with veterans and their families who understood the issues returning troops face.
“They come back to a society that doesn’t understand and a lot of times, in a lot of ways, doesn’t care,” Lewis said.
Along the way Lewis took note of programs that work to assist veterans. He plans to distribute roughly $36,000 raised between veterans programs based in the 14 states he traveled through. Lewis said the website, www.walkingforthefallen.com, will remain online through the end of the year so people can continue to make donations if they so choose.
The last seven miles of the journey to the memorial were very emotional, as Lewis walked with his wife Linda Sappington, and other supporters. At his destination, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, Lewis was joined by other supporters that included a representative from the office of Congressman Steve Daines, fellow former Marine Brendan O’Toole who is running across America for veteran awareness, and others. The final miles included a view of the Potomac River, the Pentagon, the Washington Monument and Arlington National Cemetery.
“I like to think I’m a tough person, but I couldn’t talk,” Lewis said. “I choked up. I even was to the point of breaking down at the Vietnam Memorial.”
While in Virginia, Lewis got to stop by the Modern Marine event at Marine Corps Base Quantico. He met movie star GySgt. R.Lee Ermey. He and Sappington also toured the Pentagon and met with Terry L. Mitchell, intelligence futures director at Army Headquarters.
When Lewis and Sappington arrived home, their flight was later than expected, but six people were at the Missoula airport with flags at 1 a.m. to greet them. Lewis said he had asked the group to not welcome him back because he didn’t like the limelight, but they did not follow instructions.
“They went above and beyond,” Lewis said.
Upon his return, Lewis was already thinking of ways to continue supporting veterans and improving patriotism.
“I know I’m not going to head out on a walk across the country again, but I’m still going to raise awareness about our wounded,” he said.
On Sunday, Lewis spoke at the Gold Star Mother’s ceremony in Ronan. On Oct. 14, he plans to go before the Polson School Board and advocate for patriotic programs to be taught to children.
Many people along the journey told Lewis they wished they could walk every step with him, but that misses the point, he said.
“They don’t have to walk across the country,” Lewis said. “There is so much they can do in their own communities.”
In his travels he was surprised to find some schools didn’t have American flags in the classroom.
“They could afford to have a $200 or $300 tablet for every student, but somehow didn’t have $20 for the flag,” Lewis said.
Teaching children to be respectful and appreciative of the one percent of people who have “written a blank check to America in an amount up to their life” is important, he said. He worries that much of the nation has forgotten that. At the Gold Star Mother’s ceremony, he said he asked the audience how many people were not related to a veteran. No one raised their hand.
“Many people don’t understand what it’s all about,” Lewis said. “Where’s the general public? When we enlisted we took an oath to defend this country against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”
One of the greatest enemies at home is not a group with bombs, but instead the people’s tendency to be complacent, Lewis said.
His network of supporters show there are some out there who still care.
“I just want to say thank you for your support,” Lewis said. “It kep me going these six months. There were times I needed it.”
