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I’m going to do one of those things I don’t particularly like doing, I’m going to vent and bitch a little bit on Facebook. Verifiable Veteran suicide rates are 22 a day. Recent numbers suggest that number is actually closer to 35. The VA does not account for Veterans that commit suicide who are not currently enrolled in their systems. Often times they do not count Veterans who have been out of the service for more than 2-3 years. 35 Veterans successfully take their own lives every 24 hours. That’s more than one than one an hour. As I have said before, one is too many and is absolutely unacceptable. I am not going to get into the details or try explaining why I feel this number is so high. What I am going to do, is once again, ask that those of you who read this begin to take an active stand against this growing epidemic.

It saddens me to have to say what I am about to say, but I feel that it is necessary. Before I say it, I will add the disclaimer that I am perfectly aware that life happens to everyone, things come up, families have problems, emergencies, are unable to find babysitters etc. Everyone is busy, trust me, I get that. I know that everyone cannot be everywhere all at once and everyone is not particularly interested in doing Yoga, or Crossfit, or going on hikes. I understand that some of these things are not everyone’s cup of tea.

What I am struggling tonight to understand, is why Patriotism seems to only be popular on holidays. Yesterday I saw Facebook plastered with Support the Troops and Remember the Fallen Posts. Everyone and their dog wanted to give thanks to those who gave all so that they could enjoy the very freedom they have to thank them for their sacrifices. Today, all the flags were taken down from the yards and streets. Little to no posts showed up on Facebook to thank service members, both past and present. Very few people showed up to our weekly yoga class. Had we done it yesterday would more of you come out to show your support? Why does it have to be a holiday for people to want to thank the 1% of the rest of us that have or continue to serve? Team Red White and Blue has one mission, to enrich the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity. This mission is to give them a sense of purpose and reintegrate them into their communities so they stop doing things like committing suicide. If you want to thank those of us that still walk the face of the Earth, if you don’t want to have to remember another one of us next Memorial Day, then start proving it.

I’m not only advocating for Team RWB. I am also advocating for the IAVA, the Vet Centers, the Red Cross, any of the other organizations that are putting forth the effort to battle this ever increasing problem. If you don’t want to come do Yoga and do the physical activity thing then you can still help out in some way. You can share the event notifications, you can start educating yourself on why PTSD is such a problem and learn how to deal with those of us that have it. You can donate time, money, man hours, and clothes, anything that might help those organizations who are taking an active stand against suicide rates accomplish their mission.

One of the big reasons that I do advocate Team RWB is because registration and membership is open to EVERYONE, regardless as to whether or not you ever dawned a uniform. It’s free, you don’t have to buy or donate anything but the 30 seconds it takes to fill out their registration form. Registering and getting involved with this organization does not mean that you have to go to Yoga or Crossfit every week. It can mean that at events like the triathlon at Sand Hollow on Saturday you can come help man an aid station and give out water to those who are racing and participating. It can mean that maybe, just maybe you can help make a difference in one Veterans life and do something good for those you praise and shower with accolades when it’s trendy to do so on Facebook. If not Team RWB then find some way to get involved, that is all that I ask. I cannot speak for every Veteran, I cannot advocate for every group trying to make a difference, and I do not speak directly for any of these organizations. These are solely my opinions and mine alone. Personally, I would rather feel neglected by the population as a whole 365 days a year than be praised on a few holidays when it’s trendy to do so and forgotten about all the rest.

If you truly support Veterans and current Service Members, then I leave you with an age old adage and a challenge: “Actions speak louder than words,” prove that you care, get involved.