Spc. Michael C. Wargo’s steel statue has come to the end of a long journey, finding a permanent resting place in Lehighton’s War at Home Memorial on Lehigh Drive.

The statue will serve as a reminder of the servicemen and women who have taken their own lives after struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.Friends and family of Michael and Sally Wargo, along with local American Legion members, the Lehighton Fire Department and local politicians came together to dedicate the memorial on Saturday afternoon.“It’s good that it’s finally coming to a close. He was just recently in the Pennsylvania state capital to bring awareness,” Wargo said about his son’s statue.“It feels good that he’s home here in Lehighton. This is where he grew up, this is where he went to school. It’s a relief and a good comfort to know that he’s finally home.The statue is a by-product of Mission 22’s traveling memorial display, which features a set of 20 steel plates with the images of fallen soldiers cut out of the centers. Mission 22 aims to educate the public about the mental afflictions that soldiers like Wargo suffer after coming home from combat, including PTSD and traumatic brain injury.Started by 501c3 charity Elder Heart, the name of the group came from the 22 veterans — since reduced to 20 – who take their own lives every day due to these afflictions.Spc. Wargo spent 10 months in Iraq as a chemical weapons specialist in Iraq. During that time, he witnessed the death of many friends in the service. He returned home in 2005, but suffered from PTSD for eight years until taking his own life.“It’s an illness,” Wargo said. “It’s not a weakness, or anything like that. We need to start talking about it, bring awareness to it, get more organizations to do more. If there’s a veteran struggling, reach out to them. If you’re a veteran who is struggling, make a phone call. Talk to someone. Just one simple phone call can make all the difference in the world, so they don’t wind up taking their own life, so their family doesn’t suffer and go through what we have.”When the Wargo’s attended the initial War at Home memorial in Bandera, Texas, a representative from Mission 22 offered the couple the steel silhouette from their son’s memorial. Initially, they weren’t sure what to do, but eventually it was decided that a permanent memorial spot in Lehighton would be best. Effort welder and Vietnam veteran Butch Zacharias mounted the cutout to a stand, and the display was later painted and transported to Harrisburg for display. Now, Wargo’s cutout features a memorial stand in front of it, providing information on what soldiers suffer through, even after coming home. A picture of Wargo is engraved upon the stand.“We named it the War at Home Memorial because, since Desert Storm, we’ve lost about 6,000 of our best men in women, killed in combat. In the same time period, we lost 120,000 who have come home and taken their lives. That’s what this is all about, bringing awareness. We need to start talking about PTSD and TBI,” Wargo said.Speakers included Spc. Wargo’s longtime friend, Pastor Tim Ghali, who, after a few cheeky stories about Wargo’s stubborn attitude – “If you liked the color blue, he liked black better, and he had 10 reasons why” – recalled a conversation with Wargo.Wargo had been talking about praying and God, which surprised Ghali, who knew him to be an atheist. Ghali went on to ask if Wargo truly believed.“And I could tell he was smiling on the other side of the phone, because he had this coy voice he uses when he’s being serious. ‘Yes, I believe in God. It’s true what they say, there are no atheists in foxholes.’”“I asked him, ‘Do you still believe in God, even though you’re not in the foxhole?’ He said, ‘That’s the whole point, you pray to get out of it alive, and God must have heard me.’ Amen to that. The conversation went on, but I’ve always been comforted by those words,” Ghali said.Sally Wargo presented her granddaughter, Michael’s daughter Brianna, with a Gold Star from American Gold Star Mothers, which honors parents who have lost children in service.Anna Rodriguez, whose son Marine Corps son Nick was included in the Mission 22 War at Home Memorial in Northampton, came to support Michael and Sally Wargo at the ceremony.“It’s important for people like Sally and I, and other mothers who have lost their son to suicide, to do that work, to speak loud,” she said. “Organizations like Mission 22 are such a great help. There are not enough organizations and government agencies recognizing the soldiers that are dying here at home. The numbers are astronomical. I will come and support Sally, Sally supports me. It’s important to stick together and spread the word, as loud as we can.”Other speakers included Mayor Tom Mase, Rep. Doyle Heffley’s officer manager Jean Papay, Cheryl Campbell of Mission 22, Pat Bye of TAPS Tragedy Assistance for Survivors, and Mark Baylis of Paul’s House, stressing the necessity of awareness and the resources available to those veterans who need it.“My heart goes out to the Wargos, their friends, and the Rodriguez family. I would hope, that if you could find just a few minutes at some point, you could help us fight this war, I would clap for your help,” Baylis said.Musical performances included singer Scott Marshall Bonaskiewich, who played “Letters and Prayers,” inspired by those in the service. Angela Marie Nardini sang the national anthem, in addition to “God Bless America.”The Wargos closed the ceremony by presenting commemorative plaques to those who made financial or work-related contributions for the memorial, including local American Legion posts, the United Veterans Organization, Zacharias, and more. Two plaques fixed upon bricks were set near the two memorial trees near the statue, honoring Wargo and all veterans. Lastly, the UVO performed military honors with a gun salute, followed by TAPS as performed by Henry Long Sr.“Michael would have been 41 a week from now,” Wargo said. “This is a tough time, because we lost him on May 20, 2013. We want to do our part. If one veteran goes over there, reads that plaque, looks at that statue, and decides to reach out and make a phone call, then this is all worth it. That’s what it’s all about.”Video: https://www.facebook.com/tnlehighton/videos/1380922391944555/Photo gallery: http://www.tnonline.com/gallery/war-home-memorial