Photo: Photo Courtesy of WBZ's Suzanne Sausville
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — "WalkforVets" began walking earlier this month and on Sunday, the organization made their way across Beacon Hill past the State House during their time in Boston.
The number "22" is significant, WalkforVets said, because on average, 22 United States veterans commit suicide every day. For that reason, the national movement began on February 2, 2022, and will cross 22 state capitals over the course of 22 consecutive days for 2.2 miles on each walk. The next stop after Boston, was set to be in Providence, Rhode Island on Monday.
"They're out trying to navigate and find their way and find themselves hitting roadblocks- also struggling within the Veteran Affairs system to get the benefits and treatments they deserve," said WalkforVets founder John Ring. Ring has been serving as an Infantryman the 48th IBCT, Delta Company 2-121 in the Georgia Army National Guard and has walked nearly 3,500 miles to raise awareness for veterans' hardships.
"It's an epidemic," Ring said, "I know we're dealing with a pandemic- but an epidemic of veteran suicide is something that needs to be addressed."
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Despite the freezing temperatures, the group walked on and said that veterans are suffering all the time, and that it was something that needed to be done.
The organization said that they reached out to local state legislators to come out and speak a few words on the issue but said they have not heard back.
WBZ's Suzanne Sausville (@wbzSausville) reports.
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