First crosses placed at field of crosses for veteran suicide awareness

PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — Motorists along US-131 will start seeing white wooden crosses multiply in a field near the LMCU ballpark to honor veterans who died by suicide.

The first 22 crosses went up at noon on Saturday. The number will continue to grow by 22 crosses at noon every day from through mid-August. In all, 660 crosses will cover this open field. Each cross bearing the name of a veteran who died by suicide.

“This cross is blank, if you have a loved one or a friend or you know of a veteran who has taken their own life…We ask that you come down and once that veteran’s name goes on this cross, it will stay on this cross forever,” John Boylan, a U.S. Army veteran who helped organize the event, said.

The property, provided by Greenleaf Landscaping Supply, runs north off of North Park Street NE. This same field was used for the event last year.

The display is sponsored by 22aday.org . It’s a nonprofit working to reduce the prevalence of suicide by veterans. The Michigan-based organization started placing crosses six years ago.

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