Seven miles of memory

According to a report released by the United State Department of Veterans Affairs in November of 2022, an average of 121 veterans per day committed suicide in 2020. The number is 30 more a day than in 2001, but about 7 fewer than in 2018.

This frightening circumstance is hardly talked about in politics or anywhere else outside of a few veterans’ circles. It is taking many lives, especially among veterans aged 18-34.

In response, veteran Jeremiah Miller, who served during the war in Afghanistan and is now an owner of Waseca’s 4-Season Apparell and More, helped start “Ruck of Hope,” an event that brings attention to the issue of veteran suicide to Waseca. A “ruck” is a walk or march taken while carrying a weight, often a rucksack.

“We started this event in 2015,” he explained. “We wanted to spread awareness about people who served their country and later took their lives because they thought they were alone.”

Sponsored by the Waseca Sleigh and Cutter Association, the “Ruck of Hope”, held this year on March 4, brings people together — veterans, current military members, their families, and others who wanted to join — to take a seven-mile walk starting at Club 57, through downtown Waseca, around Clear Lake, and back to Club 57. This year, a group of fourteen people and three vehicles acting as escorts took part in the ruck.

Along with bearing a US flag and flags of their various organizations, members of the ruck are encouraged to wear a chain of pictures with them on the journey. The photos are of the local veterans and military members who have committed suicide during the past few years.

Throughout the walk, the service members and their families shared stories and exchanged contact information to potentially organize more events and create networks of resources for their fellow veterans.

This year, along with many others, Miller has collaborated with the organization “Operation: 23 to 0” for the event. The Minnesota branch of the organization is based out of Stillwater; its mission is to curb the rates of military suicide and provide resources and networks of support.

“We often find that it’s never one thing that makes military members commit suicide,” Kirk Mansfield, a member of “Operation: 23 to 0” explained. “Oftentimes, it’s a mix of things. Maybe they’re going through a bad divorce and they’re struggling to pay the bills. We’re here to help them realize they are not alone. We want to help them out.”

Outside of the seven-mile walk around the city, the groups usually have two rucks meet in Morristown; one starts in Waseca, and the other in Faribault, both walking toward the centrally located town.

“We haven’t done that because Covid was an issue,” Miller said. “The other problem is we haven’t had many people participate.”

Either way, the message will live on. As the ruck of fourteen gathered for lunch after their seven-mile walk at Club 57, their sign still showed their message to struggling veterans: “If you are looking for a sign to not kill yourself today, this is it. You are loved. You do belong. You are worthy.”