Event in Carson City brings awareness to veterans who commit suicide

Volunteers and student veterans planted flags Friday on the lawn of the Western Nevada College campus. Each flag represents veterans who ended their lives by suicide.

More than 8,000 veterans lose their lives in this manner annually. WNC’s Veterans Resource Center’s Awareness activities continue this morning as the entire community and college are invited take part in a Veterans Suicide Walk to honor and remember the many veterans who have suffered and/or taken their own lives. Participants will walk approximately 1.3 miles up West College Parkway from the intersection of North Carson Street and West College Parkway to the WNC main campus. Walkers will park and assemble in the parking area south of Bully’s Restaurant at 10 a.m.

Along the way, walkers will view signage that’s meant to send caring thoughts to veterans, and also acknowledge the suffering and needs many veterans bring home from battle. Words like “We will fight with you” and “We haven’t given up on you” are shared with stark messages such as “A veteran commits suicide every 65 minutes” and “It takes the courage and strength of a warrior to ask for help.”