Veterans Raise Awareness About Elevated Rate Of Suicide: ‘Just Staggering’

On Veteran’s Day, one organization is marching 22 miles to raise awareness for the estimated 22 veterans, active-duty service members, and other military personnel who die by suicide each day. 

The organization, March for the 22, was scheduled to march from Mayville, North Carolina beginning at approximately 4:30am to New Bern, NC on Veterans Day, in the second annual march for veteran suicide awareness in Craven County, which currently is home to about 20,000 veterans. 

“It’s not just to bring awareness, but to also raise funds for programs specifically for veterans in our area that can be impactful,” said Adin Colon, according to the Sun Journal. 

Colon, a Bronze Star recipient who spent 12 years in the U.S. Army, organized the first march in 2020. Several of the expected 120 participants are going to be hiking with an extra 22 pounds of weight.