I helped erect a wall today (Sept. 24). Not a wall of division, such as the Berlin Wall or the metaphorical Iron Curtain; not a wall of partition of territories, such as walls going up between Israel and Palestine; not a wall of religious divide, as in Iraq; but a wall of unity, forgiveness and togetherness in common sorrow.

In erecting the Vietnam Memorial Wall being displayed at the Veterans Memorial Park through Sept. 30, I had the pleasure to work with a detachment of Navel Mobile Construction Battalion personnel. In them, I saw a generation of forgiveness – equal opportunity, male and female working side by side with equal pay; unity of cultures – blacks, whites and other cultures side by side in friendship and arms; togetherness in work, play and sorrow as we erected each panel.

To think, it took less than a generation to overcome our prejudices and fear of our fellow Americans.

That is what makes this nation so great, if we just have the eyes and minds to see it. But, like some of my generation, we must first look hard at ourselves, for there are many lessons to learn from building the right kind of walls.

Charles A. Soule, Lewiston