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NEW ULM – Veteran suicide prevention advocates will march on New Ulm Sunday, to a rally in Riverside Park for the Liam Kelly Motivational March and Rally.
Starting out at 4 a.m. in Mankato, the marchers will push themselves 23 miles to reach New Ulm by noon. The rally will be held from 12 to 4 p.m. with music and food available.
The rally is intended to motivate awareness of veteran suicides. Information from groups including the American Legion, VFW, Brown County Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention and the Marine Corps League will be available to attendees.
“In the military, your instructors will ‘motivate’ you, usually through some type a grueling physical activity,” said organizer Sean Kelly. “This will be a grueling march, and it will motivate the public to keep the subject of Veteran Suicide on their minds, in their hearts and more importantly, their conversations.”
The 23-mile march represent the 22 veterans and one active duty soldier who die from suicide every day.
“However, there are also 22 states that do not report when a veteran commits suicide,” said Kelly. “This includes the states of California and Texas. Two of our largest states that have large military populations. The sad part is that the real number is more than likely higher. The suicide rate for Veterans per 100,000 is more than double the civilian rate. And women veterans’ suicide rates are higher than their male counterparts.”
The marchers should enter New Ulm on South 20th Street near Hy-Vee, where they will be greeted by a cannon volley. A brief memorial service including taps and the National Anthem will follow when all of the marchers enter the park.
The rally has attracted the approval of Senators Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar. Klobuchar wrote a letter that will be read at the event. However neither senators’ schedules will allow them to visit. Representative Tim Walz has also sent word of his support, however the death of his brother will prevent his attendance.
Last year, the Kellys organized the Motivational Mile where they encourage everybody to run one mile per day for 22 days, ending on June 30 – the anniversary of veteran Liam Kelly’s death by suicide in 2014.
“While we know that the reasoning behind this event, is depressing; we want families to come down and enjoy the afternoon with some music and food, and show that they stand with our veterans as well as anyone who may start down that dark path to suicide.”