During the Vietnam War, veterans returning home from combat often felt unwelcomed by the American public.  Met with hostility by war protesters and with indifference by a society increasingly numbed by televised warfare, many veterans withdrew and suffered in silence.

It was for this reason that the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., was created. The memorial, dedicated in 1982, recognizes the men and women who sacrificed their lives in the Vietnam War. More than 58,200 names are inscribed on the memorial's black granite wall, representing America's dead and missing from the war.

The Wall has since become a place of comfort and reconciliation for veterans and their families, and a place to remember lost friends and loved ones. For many, visiting the memorial is the first step towards healing decades of pain.

Recognizing that not all veterans are able--or emotionally ready--to visit the national memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund unveiled The Wall That Heals traveling wall in 1996. It is a half-scale replica that visits communities throughout the country.

The Wall That Heals was displayed in Great Falls, Montana, July 23-27. Hosted by the Montana Veterans Memorial Committee, it was an opportunity for military and civilian communities to join together at Elk's Riverside Park to support veterans and their families.

"Thank you for coming and gathering with us on this windy plain to honor the men and women and the loved ones who have served our country in our darkest hours and who have given all in the line of duty," said Michael Winters, mayor of Great Falls, July 24 at The Wall That Heals opening ceremony and memorial service. "Now we hope they are resting gently in the arms of the angels."

Col. Tom Wilcox, 341st Missile Wing commander, spoke about the positive support the active duty and reserve forces receive today from the American public and acknowledged that it is largely because of the lessons society learned from the Vietnam generation of veterans.

"They taught us compassion--compassion of the nation and compassion of the people--and they taught us to respect our heroes," Wilcox said. "We thank them every day for blazing a trail and making the support for the U.S. military what it is today."

The testimony of Vietnam veterans underscored the importance of The Wall That Heals.

Larry Malby was a young Marine when he went to Vietnam. He lost four friends there, men he had carpooled with during his basic officer training in Virginia. They had planned to reunite upon their return from the war.

It took several years before he found the strength to go to the wall, and only then with the accompaniment of a trusted confidant.

"I visited each of my friends, and another who was killed beside me," Malby said. "Many thoughts went through my mind, some good and some not so good, but by the end I was enveloped by a profound sense of inner peace. I have no idea where that came from but it had to be something to do with that wall and perhaps something about that promise to regroup after the war."

Bill Willing, the chairman of Montana's Veterans Affairs Board, was the keynote speaker at the ceremony. He flew 512 combat missions in Vietnam as a helicopter gunship pilot. Willing spoke of the alienation veterans felt after coming home, and the anguish and survivor's guilt he still feels. The thousands of names on the wall, and the 330,704 more wounded in action but not listed, have deep personal meaning to him.

"For those of us who survived the war, and to the families of those who did not, we see the faces and we feel the pain that these numbers created," Willing said. "We are, until we pass away, haunted by these numbers because they were our friends and family. But when we come to the healing wall, the process of healing for all of us can begin."

Volunteers from Malmstrom Air Force Base helped facilitate The Wall That Heals during its stay here, providing assistance with set-up and tear-down, security, information and visitor assistance.

On July 23, approximately 15 members of the 819th RED HORSE Squadron carefully assembled the 250-foot wall--comprised of 24 aluminum panels--and the mobile museum that accompanies it. The squadron also erected two large military tents that were used for counseling sessions and to serve refreshments.

"I think this is a great community service and a service towards veterans of the Vietnam War," said Staff Sgt. Paul Rudolph, 819 RHS structural craftsman. "I think it's awesome that the wall travels and that it's able to come here to Great Falls and that we're able to take part and read the names and maybe give a moment of silence for our fallen heroes."

Senior Airman Jack Ensminger, 341st Force Support Squadron relocation technician, provided overnight security so that The Wall could stay open to the public 24/7. This allowed people to pay their respects in peace and solitude, even at 1 a.m.

"One man talked about how it was his very own tradition to salute each and every panel but felt with so many people around during the day, he would have eyes on him," Ensminger said. "He said that made him feel very uneasy and he really appreciated us staying open all night long."

Tech. Sgt. David Rash, 341st Maintenance Group unit security manager, assisted visitors with locating the names of loved ones on the wall. As the son of a Vietnam veteran, he said he felt a connection to the memorial.

"I felt sad, proud and humbled," Rash said. "I was sad because every name on the wall represented a father or son or brother or husband that died to provide the future I currently enjoy. I felt proud that I was part of honoring my fellow brothers in arms, and I was also proud to serve with other veterans from around our community, most of whom were Vietnam veterans. I was humbled because it reminded me to be thankful for what I have."

Airman 1st Class Ashley Miller, 341st Comptroller Squadron administrative journeyman, also helped visitors find names on the memorial.

"I truly loved volunteering at The Wall That Heals," Miller said. "It was very tough not to get emotional; these men and women were telling stories from a war very few veterans ever spoke about. These veterans were finally getting a sense of closure, and now they can begin healing."