A WALL AS WITNESS
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DIRECTOR & PRODUCER RUSTY FARST
Riding his motorcycle yearly alongside Rolling Thunder Chapter 2 to Washington D.C. Rusty Farst has a deep commitment to tell the Vietnam story another time, yet in a different way. Although this war has been told in almost every media known to man, Farst has found an interesting way to share his experience, often from the perspective of the Wars Veterans Memorial.
Susan Wiseman, singer/songwriter, known at “The Tribute Lady,” with her husband Larry on trumpet, has written "A Wall As Witness" the song. Susan also sings 6 West - Line 5. The song was written in memory of her cousin, Guy Lamar Mears Jr., who was a Vietnam casualty and whose name is on The Wall, position 6 West - Line 5. Susan sang at the fifth anniversary at Ground Zero and has received request to perform at the 10th anniversary in 2011.
Farst shot over 70 hours of film for the project, which he is editing down to a 70-minute full feature documentary whiuch has already screened in two film festivals. Farst’s journey to capture the essence of the Vietnam Wall has led to encounters with the likes of Colin Powell, Newt Gingrich and Maya Lin (the Memorials designer). He has interviewed scores of veterans and their friends and relatives and his film tells their stories and their ongoing interactions with the Vietnam Wall. The inspiration for the documentary came after a personal visit to the memorial. “When I stood at The Wall I was touched in such a way that I wanted to bring the story back to my hometown,” said Farst. “It is the most interactive man made structure I have ever encountered, and it is this energy exchange which brings it to life,” said Farst. “For some it is to learn and to understand. For others, it is a place of healing and a time to make amends and say goodbye.” 
In putting together the documentary, it was only natural that he should meet with island artist Luc Century, who pioneered a photo stenciling technique to etch the names of the 58,260 fallen soldiers on the black granite, and experienced first-hand the emotions surrounding the initially controversial memorial. In the documentary Farst visits Century’s island studio and shows how he carved out the names. The film also features the amazing photographs taken by Luc’s sister, Janet Century, on the day of the dedication back in 1982. “These never released photos of the dedication are breathtaking,” DIRECTOR & PRODUCER
RUSTY FARST
Riding yearly alongside Rolling Thunder Chapter 2 has instilled a deep committment to tell the Vietnam Memorial story yet another time, in a different way. Although it has been expressed in almost every media known to man, we have found yet another interesting way to share this experience. Imagine yourself experiencing this Memorial as if you were the memorial. Witness your visitors as they touch you, feel your heat, rub you with graphite pencils to take a little piece of you home with them. How could you as a silent memorial speak your meseage to so many without saying a word? You have become the most interactive Memorial in American history, and this interaction is what brings you to life. What will You witness?
"The Wall has been a vehicle by which Vietnam Veterans come out of the closet, to stand proud again. These Veterans had guts and fortitude, and still do today. I feel it is from this altered paradym that we today desire to support our warriors who serve in Iraq and Afhganistan, even though we may not support a war. -Rusty Farst
TO VISIT OTHER FILMS BY RUSTY FARST
The Southwest Florida Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Rusty Farst.com
Underwater shipwrecks and cave diving
Sanibel Island Florida history Film
