Private Project

"On This Hallowed Ground" Vietnam Veterans Memorial Born From Tragedy

Emmy Nominated Film. In the fury of battle, ideology and good intentions meet the harsh reality of survival and politics. Young lives are cut short by the edge of a bayonet or the pull of a trigger, and the aftermath is filled with the broken hearts of those who loved them. Such was the case for Victor “Doc” Westphall and his wife, Jeanne, when they were told by the Marine Corps that their son, Lt. David Westphall, had died in an ambush at Con Thien in Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam. The crushing news left them with an unavoidable question that haunts millions who have lost loved ones in the tragedy of War: “What do we do now?”
For Doc and Jeanne, their response was to honor the only thing that is worthy of honor in fatal conflict—the sons and daughters, mothers and fathers who fought and bled when their country called. Their response became a battle of its own. Through financial struggles, political controversy, and a broken spirit, they succeeded in building a place to heal the brokenhearted and honor their boy. This is the story of the Peace and Brotherhood Chapel in Angel Fire, New Mexico, which has become a place revered by veterans and their families from both sides of the conflict. And which now stands as a beacon calling all wounded hearts to heal and giving honor to them all.

  • Sarah Kanafani
    Director
  • Jason Baltzley
    Writer
  • Walter Westphall
    Writer
  • Ward Nickish
    Writer
  • Lanny Tonning
    Writer
  • Jack Swickard
    Writer
  • Sarah Kanafani
    Producer
  • Scott Kanafani
    Camera Op.
  • Scott Kanafani
    Drone Operator
  • Sarah Kanafani
    Editor
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    History, War, Action
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 10 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    October 30, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    70,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Sarah Kanafani

With over 20 years of Directing, Editing and working as a Director of Photography, Sarah Kanafani takes her passion for filmmaking and dives deep into films focused on the human condition and social issues. Having her start in producing and directing commercials for companies such as JetBlue, Smile Direct Club, Toyota, Verizon and HGTV, Sarah has transitioned over into feature-length documentary and feature-length films. Her debut directorial documentary film "On This Hallowed Ground: Vietnam Veterans Memorial Born From Tragedy" brought home two Telly awards for Best Documentary and Editing. The film covers the Vietnam War, the Famed Huey Helicopter and the story of how America's first Vietnam War Memorial came to be. It debuted in November of 2019 on NBC and is now available for purchase or rental on Amazon Prime. This film has launched her career as a notable documentary filmmaker. Sarah resides with her husband Scott and their four children in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She and Scott own and operate Luminance Pictures, a full-scale film production company, which opened in 2003. Within Luminance, Sarah creates award-winning documentaries, stellar EPK's for various recognized musicians, commercials and short films for nonprofit organizations. She has won several prestigious awards for directing, editing and graphic design. Her credits include Miller Coors, A&E, Jet Blue, Toyota, Verizon, Heritage Hotels, Mack Avenue Records, Artistry Music, HGTV and National Geographic to name a few. In the spring of 2018, Sarah launched her film company, Box Light Films, which assists with distribution and production support.

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Director Statement

It was a true honor to work on such a significant project. This memorial and all the men who fought in this war will always be a reminder of the cost of war and the sacrifice of liberty.