WAVERLY, N.Y. (WENY) -- The Tioga County Veterans Service Agency hosted their 5-K Ruck March for Them earlier today in Waverly to honor veterans and service members lost to suicide as well as provide resources to veterans active duty personnel that may be in need of support.
Every day in the United States, 22 veterans and military service members will take their own lives. In order to raise awareness of veteran suicide, many came out to Waverly Glen Park to take part in the 5K Ruck for Them March, where participants complete the journey with a backpack containing 22 pounds of weight to represent the lives lost every day to veteran suicide.
"Well, many of our veterans when we teach our men and women how to go to war, we don't teach them how to come home and when they come home, They often times have mental health challenges, physical health challenges, substance use disorders, they feel disconnected, they've lost their purpose in their way, they isolate, they spiral. Events like this that we do throughout the year is trying to get them out getting reconnected with like-minded folks," remarked Michael Middaugh, Tioga County Director of Veterans Services.
According to the non-profit organization Stop Soldier Suicide, veterans remain at a 72 percent higher risk of suicide than those who have not served. Several support groups were at the march today to offer services to those in need at an information fair adjacent to the march.
"There's a lot of places out there where people can get with you and talk with you. And sometimes it's just having a conversation with somebody who's gone through it to prevent you from going through the same thing. I don't want anybody to have to go through what I've gone through," added Rick Neild, who started the non-profit Team Terry following the loss of his son.
Organizers and attendees at today's march encourage veterans looking for help and direction to reach out to their local veterans service offices, and know that they are never alone in their struggles. Volunteer opportunities exist with the Onward Ops military transition program, geared toward helping veterans readjust to civilian life.