Local march raises $3,500 for veterans’ suicide awareness
Fifty marchers walk from the Boothbay Harbor fire station to Barrett’s Park and back to support Veterans Suicide Prevention programs June 1. BILL PEARSON/Boothbay Register
Boothbay Baptist Church had 12 members who walked the three-mile march route to support veterans’ suicide prevention. BILL PEARSON/Boothbay Register
Janet Clark organized the third annual Veterans’ Suicide Prevention March, which took place June 1. BILL PEARSON/Boothbay Register
Courtesy of Janet Clark
Courtesy of Janet Clark
Courtesy of Janet Clark
Courtesy of Janet Clark
Courtesy of Janet Clark
Courtesy of Janet Clark
Courtesy of Janet Clark
Courtesy of Janet Clark
Courtesy of Janet Clark
Courtesy of Janet Clark
Fifty marchers walk from the Boothbay Harbor fire station to Barrett’s Park and back to support Veterans Suicide Prevention programs June 1. BILL PEARSON/Boothbay Register
Boothbay Baptist Church had 12 members who walked the three-mile march route to support veterans’ suicide prevention. BILL PEARSON/Boothbay Register
Janet Clark organized the third annual Veterans’ Suicide Prevention March, which took place June 1. BILL PEARSON/Boothbay Register
Courtesy of Janet Clark
Courtesy of Janet Clark
Courtesy of Janet Clark
Courtesy of Janet Clark
Courtesy of Janet Clark
Courtesy of Janet Clark
Courtesy of Janet Clark
Courtesy of Janet Clark
Courtesy of Janet Clark
Courtesy of Janet Clark
A 2022 Department of Veterans Affairs survey reported, on a daily basis an average of 17 veterans commit suicide. For the past three years, the American Legion has tried bringing awareness to the tragic situation by hosting a Veterans’ Suicide Awareness Walk.
On June 1, 50 participants gathered at the Boothbay Harbor fire station for a three-mile march to Barrett’s Park to show their support for troubled veterans. The event was organized by summer resident Janet Bradford. She has participated in the march for each of the past three years. This year’s theme is “Be the One!” The American Legion wants family members, friends and other vets to be the one who offers assistance to veterans dealing with the prospect of suicide.
“This is all a part of de-stigmatizing mental health issues harming veterans,” she said. “We are marching to raise money and awareness to veterans’ mental issues. We’re hoping this will make people aware and start listening to at-risk veterans and result in people sensing a problem, to take action.”
The march took about an hour and included individuals and groups from civic and business organizations. Branch Manager Adam Climo of The First led a contingent of four bank employees in the march. “We are here to support veterans and because it’s the right thing to do,” he said. Climo reported bank employees donated a total of $200, and The First matched it with another $200. The Boothbay Harbor branch was also joined by The First employees from Damariscotta.
One of the larger groups came from Boothbay Baptist Church, with 12. This is Pastor Glen Carter’s second year leading the church. He has spent time counseling veterans in and out of the church. “We are here specifically to support suicide prevention,” he said. “I know several veterans who are on the brink due to alcohol and drug addiction. I want to do all I can to support them.”
Other organizations marching as a team were J. Edward Knight, Ashby Law Services, Boothbay Region Elementary School, and Anchor Church. The event raised $3,500 for Togus VA Medical Center in Augusta, according to Clark.
