Members of the military face some difficult circumstances as they fight to protect our country.
As a cost, some leave the service with serious mental health concerns and even contemplate suicide.
A Harborcreek bar has teamed up with an organization called Stop Soldier Suicide to help raise money and awareness for the cause
Stop Soldier Suicide said veterans are at a 57 percent higher risk of suicide than those who have not served, and supporting our veterans should be a top priority.
Veterans and service members are what give each of us the opportunity to live freely here in the United States. But often, they have mental health problems after service and are unable to get the help they need.
Every day, an average of 22 veterans and service members commit suicide.
“I had a son in the military for 24 years in the Air Force and he was one of 22 a day,” said Carol Maas, a military mom.
On Wednesday night, Rosco’s Sports Bar and Grill teamed up with Stop Soldier Suicide to help raise money to provide support.
Some attendees may talk about how suicide has affected them.
“I have experienced several suicides. I spent my time in the military and 35 years in the fire department and any time there’s a suicide it’s a horrible experience,” said Bill Vahey, veteran and Harborcreek resident.
Veterans can struggle to return to civilian life, and Maas said the things they’ve seen and gone through are partly to blame.
“What they see when they go overseas on these tours is nothing we can even imagine,” Carol Maas said.
A co-owner of Rosco’s shared with us the purpose of Stop Soldier Suicide and why they continue to fight.
“They have a 57 percent higher suicide rate than the average part of the country. The goal of this foundation is by 2030 to bring it back at least as good as the rest of the country,” said Rick Hess, co-owner of Rosco’s Sports Bar and Grille.
“As a mother, losing one, you go on a guilt trip of what could I have done, what could I have said? But you can’t do that to yourself. I feel so bad that we really need more help to get more help to these veterans,” Maas explained.
Stop Soldier Suicide raised over $6,000 at Wednesday night’s event.
To learn more about Stop Soldier Suicide and their cause, check out their website here.
