Local Group Remembers The #22 on June 22

With all the public displays, parades, ceremonies and social media posts highlighting pride month , it’s easy to get lost. The message that seems to be distributed en masse is acceptance of the LGBTQ+ people in the community. However, June is also PTSD Awareness month. Why do I mention this? PTSD is one of the leading causes of Veteran Suicide or if you prefer, the #22. We know that this number is a national average. Across the US, 22 Veterans every day lose their most important battle. Their battle to live. Enter 22 Until None, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending this. These folks have organized 4 global walks designed to show those who feel like giving up that they are not alone in this fight. Each year has a theme and this year the theme was “Breaking The Silence and Stigma of Mental Health”. There were 22 locations worldwide with one being here in Manchester. The Daniel Webster Council stepped up in a big way by allowing this to take place at Camp Carpenter on Blondin Road. The scenic Dan Beard trail offered the perfect blend of topographical features to make this family friendly event not only enjoyable, but comfortable as well. Over the 5 Kilometer (3.2 mile) trek, attendees talked about personal struggles, friends they have lost, and what drew them together for this occasion. It seemed that the common thread was a genuine love for their brothers and sisters in arms. A family that few are part of and even fewer understand, but a family that seems to have the most impact on perfect strangers. The folks who turned up ranged in age from kindergarten to retirees and they weren’t all Veterans. Lots of folks were spouses, family and friends of someone who was walking. This wasn’t just a gaggle of Veterans and family though. Groups such as Marine Corps League Dillon Detachment #734, Mission 22 and the Portsmouth NH and Worcester MA chapters of Irreverent Warriors (IW) also made the trip. In fact, IW folks made it a point to hike in silkies! For the uninitiated, silkies are short shorts made from a silky smooth material. I’ll leave it at that. Logistically an event like this doesn’t just happen. The planning began back in February. David Southwick, the contact for Daniel Webster Council, was incredibly helpful and fully immersed in this operation. Tours of the trail were given while there was still snow on the ground and input and information was continuous. After the walk/hike, folks were treated to grilled hot dogs, homemade cupcakes, and assorted other snacks. It was during this time that we learned more about people’s motives for coming. A camera was set up and continuously recording as people were kind enough to share their thoughts. Lisa Keefe, a school nurse in the Manchester School District simply said “ We’re here for you, just reach out”. 7 words that carry incredible weight. Others, such as Brian Westover felt it was important to show up because he “Hopes people understand it’s (mental illness) nothing to be ashamed of and we all need help in some way”.

Not all the Veterans saw combat. Chris did a standard year long deployment to Japan. In his video he admits he “turned to things like alcohol and drugs and was just going down a very dark path” when his service ended because he wasn’t prepared to re-enter civilian life, despite transitional readiness programs offered by the Marine Corps. Then there were people like Chris Schroeder and John Ellingwood. Both of IW Chapters. Chris of Portsmouth and John of Worcester MA. Both men encouraged checking on on battle buddies.

Chris Schroeder mentioned he was hiking for

“Carter Shade,

Kristin O'Neil,

Seth Haapanen,

Dillon Lanthorn,

Sean Marron,

T.J. Loftis, and

Patrick Petrillo”.

Other folks indicated it was important to support the cause. The very last person recorded, David Southwick, said he was “retired navy and we are happy to have hosted this event today”. Dave ended his recording with a simple “thank you”.

While it is important to acknowledge the event itself, it is also necessary to point out that without the support of folks who managed the check-in station, ensured folks had water, ran the grill, took photos, and helped with the multitude of tasks that popped up, the event would not have had the same impact. Ms. Brenda Anglin, Ms. Patricia Anglin, Jennifer Wyman, Paul Glidden, Nicola Wyman, Newton Wyman, Codey Martioski, Sasha Drakoulakos, Jon Vinciguerra, all contributed to make this event memorable. Bruce Gates played the National Anthem. An electric guitar, plugged into a small amplifier run off of power provided by a pickup truck perfectly set the tone for the day. From start to finish, the event was a success.