Veterans’ Suicide Prevention Week in Pennsylvania began Thursday and concludes Sept. 26.
State Rep. Joe Webster, D-Montgomery, in partnership with Montgomery County, is proud to announce the recognition of Veterans’ Suicide Prevention Week in Pennsylvania starting Thursday, Sept. 19 and concluding Thursday, Sept. 26.
Veterans’ Suicide Prevention Week recognizes the tragedy of veteran suicide while promoting resources that are available to veterans and highlighting the availability of 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline. As of 2021, suicide was the 13th highest cause of death for veterans overall, and the second-leading cause for veterans younger than 45.
Throughout the week, Webster, in partnership with the Montgomery County Suicide Prevention Task Force’s Veteran Subcommittee, the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services Office of Veteran Services, and the Montgomery County commissioners and coroner, will hold multiple events to acknowledge veterans who have died by suicide and to honor the unwavering service to our country of all veterans. Events will include a flag-raising ceremony, a documentary screening and a Witting Tree dedication.
"Historically, veterans take care of veterans, and the pain of losing one of our own to the devastation of suicide is a pain felt deeply by all of us,” said Webster, a retired Air Force colonel. “Anything that can be done to raise awareness of the suicide risk in the veteran population is an action worth taking. My hope is that, through providing these events and sharing the resources our county provides, we can show our veterans that there is help available when they need it. I encourage all of us to participate in these public events and to share with veterans the valuable information offered.”
At 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 23, Webster and Montgomery County leaders will conduct a public flag-raising at the Montgomery County Courthouse, 2 E. Airy St., Norristown, 19401. Elected officials and guests will be on hand, as well as a lineup of speakers, including:
At 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, a free screening and discussion of “The Journey Home,” a film about one group of veterans, their community, and PTSD, will take place at Ursinus College’s Olin Hall Auditorium, 601 E. Main St., Collegeville, 19426. To reserve a spot at this screening, call Webster’s office at 484-200-8263. A question-and-answer session will follow the screening.
On Thursday, Sept. 26, the week will conclude with a Witting Tree Dedication. This event is closed to the public, but veterans, EMS workers, and press may call Webster’s office to RSVP: 484-200-8263. The public is welcome to visit the tree at Lower Providence Community Library between Friday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Oct. 5. A Witting Tree acknowledges the veteran-death-by-suicide rate and encourages discussion around suicide prevention. Seventeen dog tags will be placed on the tree, which represent the daily number of veterans lost to suicide this year in the United States.
For inquiries, call Webster’s office at 484-200-8263 or email RepWebster@pahouse.net.
