WESTFIELD – Tomorrow morning, State Rep. John Velis will take a journey for his fellow veterans when he participates in the Carry the Fallen ruck march.
He will join 200 others and march the Boston Marathon route, carrying a backpack to weigh him down.
“We will fill them with water bottles and whatever else will make them heavy to symbolize the emotional weight carried by veterans,” said Velis.
Carry the Fallen is a ruck march to benefit Active Heroes to raise awareness about the suicide rate of veterans.
“Twenty-two veterans a day commit suicide,” said Velis. “One veteran suicide a day is too many.”
Velis, a veteran and an active duty Army captain, said he wants to do something to help current and future veterans.
“We need to fix this now so we can save the veterans of the future,” said Velis.
Carry the Fallen is the largest event in the world to raise veteran suicide awareness. Velis said the group will march the entire 26.2 mile Boston Marathon route starting at 5 a.m. They will stop to eat at the Natick VFW and end with closing ceremonies at 6 p.m.
Velis said this is a great cause and great practice for his marathon ambitions.
“I’m currently training to run the Boston Marathon, but I haven’t done any ruck marching,” he said. “The last time was with my company and it was only about eight miles.”
Velis said he hopes to see familiar faces along the way.
“People can come out to watch anywhere on the marathon route,” he said. “I’d love to see some people from Westfield.”
The ultimate purpose of Carry The Fallen is to reduce veteran suicide and assist military families by:
1. Establishing camaraderie to cope with Post Traumatic Stress (anger, depression, loneliness, substance abuse and suicidal tendencies), uniting veterans, families and supporters to care for each other in times of need.
2. Training team leaders how to interact with suicidal veterans and the steps to assist them.
3. Developing a peer mentor and ambassador community of veterans, military families and civilians who support struggling families and/or veterans.
4. Supporting Active Heroes programs including the retreat, community center, home repairs, and active challenges from donations raised by the Carry The Fallen events that will help reduce veteran suicide with outdoor activity programs and educational programs.
