Veteran suicide awareness has helped, according to the VA

Shane Carry walking laps around the parks in Franklin last year in the first Ruck Walk in honor of his son and all veterans who commit suicide.
​

Suicide among veterans and active duty personnel have been over 6,000 a year since 2002. A local father has had to deal with this reality face to face as his son was one of those 6,000. And he is not sitting back hoping something is done to bring awareness, he is putting the issue in front of our eyes each year,

Shane Carey's son Tyler, a Franklin High School graduate, committed suicide while serving in the United Staes Marine Corps. Since then Carey, and his family has been dedicated to spreading awareness to the overwhelming number of veteran and active service veteran suicides  - around 22 each day.
 
This number may seem staggering and almost unbelievable, but a report after report shows that suicide among American veterans and active duty personal are almost four-times greater than that of Americans killed in combat worldwide.

Carey, since his sons death, has made it his personal mission to increase awareness to this  epidemic.

Carey carries hi own sons memorial marker to be placed at St. Patrick's Cemetery where his son was buried.
​

Next weekend he and others are holding a two day event to not only increase awareness, but to help raise funds to combat what is happening to service members and veterans. A Ruck/Walk with laps around Franklins downtown parks that is supposed to encompass 22 miles on Saturday, for one suicide death each day. On Sunday they ride hoping to attract the attention of even ore folks.

Read more of this story and get more information here.