COLD SPRING, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hundreds of ill and injured veterans and their caregivers recently participated in a weekend of activities aimed at raising awareness of veteran suicide in Washington, D.C. Spartan Weekend, held May 6-8, was presented by DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and Spartan Alliance.
Spartan Weekend included a bike ride, golf scramble and concert at the Hard Rock Cafe headlined by Kristy Lee Cook. It culminated on Sunday, May 8, with a non-denominational service at The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial.
Father Matt Pawlikowski, an Army chaplain from West Point, officiated a Mother’s Day service honoring Gold Star and Blue Star Mothers who have sons or daughters who are actively serving or have lost their lives in service. The ceremony closed with dozens of veterans taking an oath against suicide, known as the Spartan Pledge, a promise to reach out to their “Battle Buddy" before doing harm to themselves or others.
The Spartan Pledge is a commitment among warfighters to stand with their fellow soldiers in times of despair. The pledge has proven to be an effective deterrent to a spiral of hopelessness and offers a mission of brotherhood and a promise for tomorrow. A newly created Spartan Sword, made from 25 pounds of steel melted down from the fallen World Trade Centers, was used to administer the pledge.
“When the last bullet is fired, when the last man or woman steps off the plane or ship and comes home, for disabled veterans, their struggles – those that are visible and the ones we can’t see – remain an everyday part of life,” said Dennis Joyner, a Vietnam Army veteran and triple amputee who gave the opening comments at the ceremony. “We as a community of veterans and survivors must band together and ensure none of our own are left behind or forgotten.”
Joyner, who is the president of Disabled Veterans’ Life Memorial Foundation and a past National Commander of DAV, is available to comment on the event.
Veterans commit suicide at a 50 percent higher rate than those who did not serve in the military, according to a study published last year from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The 2015 DAV Veterans Pulse Survey found that one in four veterans see suicide as one of the biggest challenges facing those who have served.
For more information, resources and benefits assistance for veterans and their families, visit www.DAV.org.
About DAV: DAV provides a lifetime of support for veterans of all generations and their families, every year helping more than 1 million veterans in life-changing ways. Dedicated to a single purpose: fulfilling our promises to the men and women who served, DAV does this by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them; fighting for the interests of America’s injured heroes on Capitol Hill; connecting veterans and their families with employment resources and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life. DAV, a nonprofit organization with nearly 1.3 million members, was founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932. Learn more at www.DAV.org.
