I respectfully disagree with John Bean’s comment on the replica Vietnam Wall’s return to Lewiston opening old wounds (Jan. 27).

I had the honor of working at the wall that visited Lewiston a few years back and saw many fellow Vietnam veterans whose wounds were healed by having the opportunity to face the fears, the demons and the reality that they returned, and their “brother” on the Wall didn’t. Many veterans told me they were so grateful to have this traveling wall in Lewiston because they couldn’t travel to Washington D.C., for emotional or physical reasons.

On my last evening at the wall, two men and a woman walked towards the wall entrance. Two, a couple, approached me for help finding the name of the other man’s buddy. He waited in the background. After locating the name, the couple waved for the other man to come over.

He looked scared and hesitant, but eventually took that first step. They gathered in front of the panel with the lost buddy’s name on it. A bottle of whiskey was placed at the foot of the panel. Hugs and tears were shared. As they left, I shook the veteran’s hand, gave him a hug and said, “Welcome home.”

He told me he’d been to the park every night, but couldn’t get himself to take those final steps to the entrance of the wall until that last night. I’ll never forget that moment.

Yes, war is hell. But that wall heals.

Rog Hamann, Greene