Veteran continues to raise awareness for fellow vets

THOMPSON FALLS - Over 3,500 miles was not enough to tire out one United States Marine Corps sergeant from spreading his message across the nation.

After wearing out three pairs of shoes and losing 33 pounds on his journey from Washington state to Washington D.C., the Marine continues to raise awareness for a problem he is working to end.

Sergeant Chuck Lewis of Ronan spoke at the Thompson Falls Community Center on Saturday about his walk across the country and the meaning behind it.

Lewis said the idea for the walk came approximately a year ago.

“For me the easiest way to get my point across and get it in the face of the American people was to go for a walk,” Lewis said.

The goal for Lewis involved four different aspects and it all began when he decided he wanted to give back to his fallen brothers and sisters.

His walk encompassed the issues of suicide awareness, patriotism, guilt and the goal to raise $50,000.

The project started back in 2007 while Lewis was at home with his wife on Christmas Eve. After realizing none of their children would be home to spend the holidays with them, Lewis decided to go stand on a street corner to remind people that not everyone was able to spend Christmas with their families.

“I remember what it was like to be away at Christmas, Thanksgiving, my birthday, my wife’s birthday,” said Lewis, speaking of his inspiration.

Lewis set up flags and stood for all of those currently overseas. He then began to stand at more events across the area.

People began to donate money and pretty soon Lewis had $1,000 collected. He was unsure of what he wanted to use it for, but that all became clear when a Ronan veteran came back home without his legs.

“It kind of hit me – that’s where this $1,000 is going to go and every dollar I collect from there on out is going to go to assist programs that care for our wounded and disabled. That’s what I wanted to do,” Lewis explained.

Lewis began to save up money until another local Marine came home and expanded Lewis’ mission.

“I had another young Marine come home a year ago this past June. He was intact, functional - except up here,” Lewis said pointing to his head. After completing four years in the corps, the Marine did a tour in Afghanistan and then returned home.

“He separated on 3 June, arrived on 4 June and we buried him on 30 June. He took his own life, left behind a wife and a one year old daughter,” Lewis explained.

This is when it hit Lewis – saving up for the wounded was not enough. He wanted his mission to include suicide awareness as well.

According to Lewis, the Department of Defense has concluded that since 2005, the nation has lost more active duty members to suicide than in combat.

This is what inspired Lewis, at 62 years of age, to walk across the country.

On his journey he pushed a cart donning all the service flags, the U.S. Flag as well as the Christian Flag. The cart weighed anywhere from 150 to 160 pounds depending on the time of season and Lewis pushed the cart over 3,500 miles for 178 days until her reached his location on September 25th.

Lewis ended his journey at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial – a bittersweet end for him.

“I have friends whose names are on that wall. And I have had 40 years that they didn’t get – 40 years to have an education, to have a career, to have a family and they didn’t get that,” Lewis said. “So six months is nothing to give up for the 40 years they didn’t get.”

During his presentation, Lewis walked through different experiences he had on his journey across the nation. He also touched on his mission of spreading both patriotism and getting rid of guilt.

Lewis wanted to remind people across the country that phrases, such as the “cost of freedom,” are not buzz-phrases and that people really do have to fight for that freedom.

He also stressed the guilt contributed to a weaker generation with names like “No child left behind” and “every child is a winner.”

Lewis explained that in every day situations, the reality is that there are winners and losers. He feels that the programs are a disservice to the kids who become to rely on that mentality after graduation.

Lewis thinks a big change needs to be made in order for the younger generations to appreciate the cost veterans have had to pay for their freedoms.

He stated the work all starts with generations much younger and that appreciation needs to be implanted in them so the younger populations know their freedom did come at a cost.

“We have to start and change the way of thinking of the younger groups. We need to get in the schools and allow them to recognize us (veterans),” Lewis said. “I want them to understand that this is the real world.”

On his journey across the states, Lewis was able to raise almost $40,000. Today, he continues to spread his message – a message and a cause he finds to be incredibly important.

With his mission far from complete, Lewis continues to raise awareness on the issues he feels passionate about. He now travels from town to town speaking at meetings or schools to spread his vision.