Hillsdale’s American Legion Riders work to raise awareness of veteran suicide

HILLSDALE TWP. — Hillsdale’s American Legion Riders are on a mission to raise awareness of veteran suicide and the “ongoing cost of war.”

Every day for the month of September, members of the Hillsdale American Legion family are gathering to add 22 American flags and solar lights to a static display in the front yard of the Leighr A. Wright American Legion Post 53, located at 1611 Steamburg Road in Hillsdale Township.

Each flag represents a service member who has taken their life, said American Legion Riders Director Angela Snyder.

“When you visually see those 22 lights there, it takes on a whole new meaning,” Snyder said. “By the end of September, 660 American Flags and solar lights will be on display representing a life that has been taken too soon.”

The community is invited to join the Hillsdale American Legion family every Tuesday at dusk to witness the solar lights coming on and to engage in a conversation about veteran suicide and what’s being done to mitigate the losses.

“We want this to be an open conversation,” Snyder said. “We want people to not be afraid to talk about it and maybe an issue that they have going on or to talk about somebody they knew that was in the military who committed suicide. We want to be the ones to have that conversation. We want everybody to know that this is a safe space.”

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At 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 1, the final ceremony will be held at the Hillsdale American Legion on the shores of Baw Beese Lake in front of the 660 displays.

Hillsdale College’s Dean of Men Jeff Rogers, a retired U.S. Navy chief petty officer, will be a guest speaker. The ceremony will end with a retirement of unserviceable American flags.

Over 3,000 of Hillsdale County’s 37,000 residents have served in the Armed Forces.

Suicide Lifeline: If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 any time, day or night, or chat online.

Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they text "HOME" to 741741.

— Contact Reporter Corey Murray at cmurray@hillsdale.net or follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @cmurrayHDN.

This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Hillsdale’s American Legion Riders work to raise awareness of veteran suicide