Kalispell veterans embark on healing trek
Linda Sappington
A group of local veterans saluted veterans headed for the Run For The Wall Friday morning as the caravan entered Ronan.
Linda Sappington
John Burgess gets a hug from veteran Chuck Lewis before Burgess led the group out of Ronan and onto a healing, cross-country trek.
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington/Valley Journal Veterans making the trek to the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., include, from left, Dick Cordell, John Burgess, Terry Baker, Larry Baker, Steve Haag and Leroy Kelly. Also traveling, but not pictured, is Willa Burgess.
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RONAN — Steady rain gave way to light mist as a caravan of Vietnam Era veterans entered Ronan Friday morning. Local veterans standing at attention weren’t deterred by the weather, and welcomed the servicemen with salute. The travelers’ visit was brief; they still had more than 1,200 miles to go to the start of the real journey, a cross-country trip of healing.
“Run for the Wall” is a 10-day motorcycle trip from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., arriving in Arlington, Virginia on Memorial Day weekend, to increase awareness of the many POW and MIAs that did not come home.
“In May 2013, my wife and I had the privilege of riding in the 25th anniversary of the Run for the Wall. It was a life changing experience for us, as well as many others who made the trip,” said Somers resident John Burgess, president of the North West Montana Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 1087 in Kalispell.
The couple road motorcycles, traveling with more than 400 other veterans, stopping daily at Veterans Memorials on the way to their destination, the Vietnam Veteran Memorial Wall. At least one community a day opened their town and hearts with a “welcome home” that so many Vietnam veterans did not receive when they returned more than 40 years ago, Burgess said.
When they arrived at The Wall, Burgess was tired, emotional and changed.
“Touching the wall, both with our hands and our hearts, many of us cried together and experienced a spiritual connection with fellow veterans that only another who has experienced the same struggles and trials would understand,” he said.
It was then he realized that he needed to reach out to other veterans who may have made it home, but were still struggling and fighting demons inside themselves from so long ago. He made a promise to organize a passenger van, driver and finances in order to enable six deserving local veterans, who would otherwise not be able to physically and /or financially make the cross country ride on a motorcycle, but deserve and need the emotional healing that occurs. “(It’s) a chance to experience their own ‘welcome home’ and to start their healing process and find a purpose for the sacrifice they made,” Burgess explained.
To raise money to help fund the veterans’ trip, the organization raffled off a South African safari/hunting trip, donated by Lakeside resident Frank Brisendine.
Run for the Wall was started in 1989 by a couple of Vietnam veterans who rode across the heartland on motorcycles, talking to local radio, TV, and newspapers about the thousands of men and women still unaccounted for from wars. The tradition continues every May, and this year begins May 14.
According to the Run For The Wall website, their mission is to promote healing among all veterans and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA), to honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars, and to support American military personnel all over the world.
