This past Saturday, I, along with more than 1,000 others, participated in the 14th annual HOOAH Ruck March on the Fox River Trail to recognize and support efforts surrounding Veteran Suicide.

This was my 10th time participating in this event, and every year it brings with it an opportunity for reflection, intention, and pride. It is a time of reflection on the lives of so many men and women who, after serving their country, lost their personal battle with depression and isolation, which too often is a residual effect of that service. It is a time of intention. That we shift our focus to the internal struggle that our Veteran population continues to battle, and the weight that they carry. That we advocate for the resources that are necessary, and create a supportive community to overcome the stigma that too often is attached to mental health struggles. And it is a time of pride, as we come together to celebrate and support those who have and continue to dedicate their lives to our great country through military service.

I should back up a bit for those who may not understand the significance of a “Ruck March”. Why not just call it a walk, or a hike? In the military, we do not just walk; we march. There are times when we march in formation as part of a ceremony or drill, and there are times that we march as a coordinated tactical movement. In any of these examples, they are a movement of purpose. In the tactical marches, we conduct these movements with the gear needed to sustain us for the immediate future, until additional resources are able to be provided. The distance of these movements will vary depending on mission. We carry everything from our clothing, food, water, ammo, and weapons, with the primary means being that of our military backpack, fondly known as our “Ruck”, the weight of which is also dictated by mission and duration of that mission. 

So, what is the significance of this annual event, and conducting it as a Ruck March? It is about shared suffering and showing our willingness to carry the weight, much like those who are struggling to carry the mental weight of painful memories and unresolved trauma. 

It is also about camaraderie, in that the experiences we share are universal and span the generations of service to our nation. This includes not just those who served, but just as importantly, the families of those who serve, as their lives have also been impacted.  

Each year the distance of the March is determined by the number of veterans that we lose to suicide every day throughout our nation. This year that number was 17.6, and thus we marched that same number in miles, with the goal that one day we will not have to march even one mile. 

Although this was not an easy journey, it is always worth the pain, for as the old saying goes: “Pain is not an excuse to quit; it is an indication that what you are doing counts.”

For more information on this event, or the organization, visit: www.hooahwi.org