Mission 22 Monument Unveiling
On May 27th, members of Detachment 296 took part in a joint color guard for the unveiling of a monument in memory of Lcpl Nicholas Rodriguez. Nick took his own life in March of 2011 while dealing with severe PTSD. There is a stat going around that on average 22 veterans a day are committing suicide. The monument was made by Mission 22, a non-profit organization trying to bring attention to this unfortunate trend. The unveiling ceremony was organized by Nick's mother, and Detachment 296 Associate Member, Anna Rodriguez. Joining our members in the color guard were veterans from V.F.W. Post 4714, C.W.V. Post 454, and American Legion Post 353. Also in attendance were members of the Warriors Watch Riders and the Leatherneck M.C. It was an emotional ceremony that will hopefully bring to light that our veterans need help. We often forget that the men and women fighting overseas are not robots, that they have emotions and are put under incredible stresses in an active war zone. Some often come home and feel guilty knowing that their brothers and sisters are still there and there is nothing they can do to help them. If you know a veteran that has come home, and they are struggling, please let them know that they are not alone, and that there is help out there for them.
- Commandant Jason M. Smith.
