A walk to raise awareness about military veterans’ suicide attracted about 100 participants on Sunday at the D&L Trail in Lehighton.

The walk began at Lehighton Veterans Memorial Park, located along Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard (Route 209) in Lehighton and continued along Lehigh Drive. On the walk, there were 50 markers; each representing a state. Members of the Valor Clinic accompanied the walkers and stated how many military veterans in that respective state committed suicide.

Prior to the walk, speakers said incidents of suicide by veterans occur more often than most people realize.

Kevin “Spike” Long, who served as master of ceremonies, said, “Not everyone who died in the war died in combat. Not everyone who came home from the war, left the war.” Michael and Sarah Wargo of Mahoning Township shared their personal experience.

When their son, Michael Wargo, graduated from Lehighton Area High School, he had his future in check. First, he planned to be a doctor. He changed his mind while in college and decided on becoming a science teacher.

After five years of secondary education, 9/11 occurred and Wargo decided his patriotism was his priority. He enlisted in the Army, where he became a nuclear biological and chemical specialist. He was sent to sent to Afghanistan and although he came home physically unscathed, he couldn’t shake the tormenting memories of witnessing the deaths of 10 members of his unit.

His parents said when he returned home, he wasn’t the same. He suffered from post-traumatic stress syndrome. On May 20, 2013, eight years after coming home, the demons of PTSD got the better of him and he committed suicide at the age of 36.

Sarah told the gathering on Sunday, “When our son came home, he felt safer in Afghanistan than he did in the United States. That makes me sick. But in Afghanistan, he had his Army buddies to the left and his Army buddies to the right. When he came home, he fell through the cracks.”

She said since 9/11, 160,000 veterans have died from suicide. She said it’s an irony that the walk was held on May 22, because an average of 22 veterans kill themselves every day.

The walk was called the National Mile Walk and was coordinated by the Valor Clinic. It began in front of a memorial that has a large, silhouetted cut-out of Wargo. Also at the park were pictures of numerous soldiers from the local area who committed suicide.

“When we came home we were grateful our son was back,” said Michael’s father. Although he had no physical injuries, “he suffered for eight years with PTSD.”

She said when Michael died, he left a video asking them not to tell others he suffered from PTSD because it’s considered a sign of weakness. She said she couldn’t make a promise because “if we save one other person from taking their life, that’s our goal.”

The main speaker was Glen Lippincott, director of small group operations of the Valor Clinic in Brodheadsville. He said, “The war at home for veterans is an issue that’s been overlooked for quite some time.”

He talked about the breakdown of relationships being a major contributor to veterans’ suicides.

Lippincott said when a relationship fails, “then your whole life unravels.”

He mentioned that this is the 10th anniversary of the Valor Clinic.

Free water and barbecue sandwiches were provided by Mission BBQ of Whitehall.

Mission BBQ is owned by Brian and Nancy Smith, who also lost their son, a military member, to suicide.

The son, Joshua, had served in Afghanistan and committed suicide nine months before Wargo.

A group which provides emotional support dogs to veterans was also present. Vet 2 Vet Service dogs had six of their canines on display.

The group, based in Douglasville, Berks County, was founded earlier this year by Maureen “Mo” Sullivan. Sullivan said she had served in the Tenth Mountain Brigade of the Army, the same unit as Wargo.

One of the dogs on display, a black, boxer-Lab mix rescue dog, was named Wargo after Michael Wargo because of his parents being so dedicated to spreading the message on veterans’ suicide. She added, “Michael Wargo also was an animal lover.”

Participants told about a Memorial Mile planned in Kidder Township north near the intersection of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Intestate 80. Besides the memorial, a facility is planned on the 190-acre site to treat veterans struggling from PTSD. It will be able to accommodate up to 26 individuals.

A color guard of the Lehighton United Veterans Organization participate. Members are Joseph Fink, William Fisher, Kevin “Spike” Long, Hans Keller and Glenn Troutman. The bugler was Harry Procina.

Angela Nardini sang the national anthem.

This is the third National Mile Walk, the second one held in Lehighton. The first year it was held in a park in Monroe County. Sarah Wargo said she feels the Lehighton site is more appropriate, not only because of the monuments in Veterans Memorial Park, but because in reality, “this topic is not a walk in the park.”