CONTRIBUTED A group of 25 set out Saturday morning to walk 22 miles from Russellville to Tuscumbia in honor of the 22 men and women who commit suicide every day because of trauma experienced while serving. This event was a partnership between Operation 22 and the National Military Veteran Project.

22-mile journey highlights veteran suicide

While Veterans Day weekend is a time to honor those who have served, Operation 22 took the weekend to raise awareness of the 22 men and women who commit suicide every day because of the trauma they experienced serving their country.

A group of 25 gathered at Southside Baptist Church at 6 a.m. Saturday morning to complete the 22-mile walk from Russellville to the Harley Davidson in Tuscumbia.

“It’s a little extra meaning for us because we have buddies that deal with the same issues that we’re walking for,” said one of the event organizers, Caleb Thompson. “Being on Veterans Day weekend, it’s already sort of a patriotic weekend anyway, so it just makes it better.”

This event was in partnership with the National Military Veteran Project. NMVP founder Melissa Jarboe said each mile of the walk serves as a memorial to the fallen soldiers who are forgotten because they died on American soil.

“A lot of the times, suicide is something that isn’t talked about much and is looked at almost like losing the battle, but that isn’t the case,” Jarboe said. “For these 22 veterans each day who lose their life to suicide, we want to honor them and their service. This is a memorial to them and everything they sacrificed up until the very end for their country.”

Thompson said of the 25 people in attendance, about half were veterans coming out to support. Participants ranged from people who trained for the 22-mile walk to people who were not as accustomed to long-distance walks.

“We had a lot of people who told me afterward they were not as prepared for it as they thought they were, but they look forward to doing it again,” Thompson said.

The event was held as a fundraiser for veteran suicide prevention. The walk was free to participate in, but Operation 22 sold hats and T-shirts and accepted pledges to raise $2,000. The goal is to raise $5,000, and Thompson said if Operation 22 sells the remainder of its merchandise, it will come close to the goal.

Merchandise is still available for sale through the Operation 22 Facebook page.

This is the third year for the walk, and Thompson said he is already thinking of ideas to make next year’s walk bigger and better.

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Mousey Brown

News

Russellville First Baptist Church receives historical marker

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Meeting a higher standard – Russellville High School JROTC

News

RCS BOE announces new superintendent  

News

Miss Dream Girl Pageant names winners

Franklin County

First Metro Bank hosts FAME Girls’ Ranch donation drive

News

PCHS holds annual Shelby Grissom Memorial Fashion Show

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: VFW Post 5184 – ‘No One Does More For Veterans’

Features

Supporting students’ futures

Features

Red Bay Garden Club discusses amaryllis planting

Franklin County

UA announces local students for fall 2023 President’s, Dean’s, graduation lists

News

School news

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Troy Oliver

Franklin County

Appropriations bill passes, allots more than $3 million for new Russellville library/multipurpose center 

Franklin County

Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association names Cattleman of the Year 

Franklin County

Franklin County votes: Unofficial March 5 primary election results 

Franklin County

Funding for new Russellville library, multipurpose community center expected this week

Features

Faces of Franklin County: BTCPA

News

GFWC Russellville Book Lovers Club sponsors downtown art crawl

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Cody Bragwell

Franklin County

42nd annual Miss RHS pageant names winners 

News

Miss RHS pageant takes place Friday

Franklin County

Political announcement: David Hester speaks about run for reelection as county commissioner

Franklin County

BTCPA auditions for final production of season take place March 3-4 

x