Austintown fundraiser honors people impacted by veteran suicide

AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — A Celebration of Life Fundraiser took place in Austintown on Saturday to honor the lives of people impacted by veteran suicide.

At Jennifer’s celebration of life, the number 22 was repeated, as it’s believed that 22 veterans take their lives every day, and some suggest the number is higher.

Veterans and their families often don’t have the resources to handle and treat the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that comes home, and suicide never impacts just one person.

“It’s heartbreaking, you know, just the devastation of suicide. Just, you know, just ripples on and on,” Keri Jacobs said.

“It’s like a cancer. It’ll spread to their battle buddies. I’ve had where I honor one and gone to the funeral, and a month later, one of their battle buddies has taken their life, and a month later — it’s affecting the families as with Jennifer,” Sue Wackerlin said.

Wackerlin says PTSD and rates of suicide aren’t something talked about enough before enlisting or after service.

Adopt a Soldier and 22 Too Many are organizations trying to change those statistics.

There’s also a movement to honor veterans who die of suicide with a turquoise heart to show how many are lost.

Jennifer was a part of both organizations, and now, both her sisters are.

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