Thank You For Making Our 3rd Annual Warriors Walk a Huge Success!

On the morning of September 10th at approximately 800 am the sun was shining and the air had a cool 65 degrees breeze as people started to conjugate at the New Lenox Commons. These people wore boots and military-style backpacks. They had flags and patches representing their service to this country. They were Sailors and Airmen, Soldiers, and Marines. They shook hands and embraced each other as if they have known each other for lifetimes even though most were meeting for the first time. They were putting sunblock on their skin and duct tape on their feet and although they were civilians and different branches of the military on this day they all wore shirts that read “22 TOO MANY”. These people were there to support the “Warriors Walk” and the fight against veteran suicide.

22 veterans, on average, commit suicide every day. That is 8,030 veterans in one year. We lose more veterans to suicide in one year than we have lost service members in Iraq and Afghanistan in all the years the US has been there since the beginning. The Veterans Affairs (VA) has been underfunded, understaffed, and overwhelmed to the point of veterans waiting, sometimes up to months, to see a mental health provider at which time it could be too late. In 2019 Jim Turner, a 55-year-old veteran, put his service uniform on, drove to the Bay Pines Department of Veterans Affairs, and shot himself outside the medical center, leaving a note next to his body. “I bet if you look at the 22 suicides a day you will see VA screwed up in 90 percent”. Between 2017 and 2018 an investigation showed 19 suicides happened on VA campuses. With such a tragedy veterans have demanded something to be done. The Headstrong Project has answered that Call.

The Headstrong Project (getheadstrong.0rg)is a not-for-profit organization that helps prevent and stop military and veteran suicides by providing best-in-class mental health treatment through its network of esteemed clinical partners ensuring that no mind is left behind. This best-in-class treatment is all at no cost for the veteran or their family.

The Headstrong Project is recognized by the VA; meaning notes and diagnoses made by the Headstrong clinicians can be used towards obtaining and increasing the veteran’s benefits. The Headstrong Project also relieves the pressure and strain on the VA which is often overwhelmed with the volume of veterans needing Care. In the Chicago area alone, hundreds of veterans have been helped with thousands of sessions being completed all at no cost to the veterans or their families.

At approximately 845 am on September 10th the Mayor of New Lenox Tim Balderman expressed his feelings on the issues “they come home and they see they need this help they are not getting it we have to be there for them”. The founder and Coordinator of the Warriors Walk Ryan Brazel, a 20-year Navy veteran with deployments to the Northern Arabian Gulf and Iraq and a VFW Post 9545 House Committee Member, advised of the walking route. The group of about fifty-plus walkers ranging in age from 20 to 80 walked to the distance of their choosing. Some walked around the commons and some started on a journey of 20 miles. When asked why people are walking different distances Brazel was quoted “Everyone wants to be part of helping out brothers and sisters. Not everyone can walk 20 miles but everyone can do something”. The walkers walked along Old Plank Road Trail where they then went north along the Lake St. trail to Route 30. The pack went east on Route 30 to School House where they crossed over to the Hickory Creek Trail. The trail looped back to Route 30 and School House then followed the route back and was given a Warriors welcome once they reached the finish line. For those who walked the 10 or 20 miles, they were able to finish at the VFW Post 9545 where anxious families and friends were cheering them on.

The Harry E. Anderson VFW Post 9545 (323 Old Hickory RD) hosted a post-event. This event had a beer truck, supplied by the VFW, and food donated by New Lenox Pizza Mia, Rosati’s, and Lou Malnati’s. As the walkers returned they were greeted by a medical professional Angela Boomsma as well as given donated IVs and B12 shots by Stefanie Drozd and the staff of Express Med Spa in Frankfort. An award, started this year, called the “He’s Not Heavy He’s My Brother” was awarded to Tommy Russell a marine from Canaryville, a south side neighborhood of Chicago. Tommy is the president of the Canaryville Veteran Riders association which go to the airports to escort service members home from deployments and also conduct funeral escorts when veterans pass away. As the day went on and patrons and walkers filled themselves with food and enjoyed the music from Keith Blazina (Good Time DJ) raffles continued with donations from Joey’s Red Hot’s including a $2,500 Voucher to have the food truck cater to the winner’s next private event.

After the walk was completed the food was all gone and the raffle was called, the temperature began to cool as the sun set. The pavilion was packed with people as 1st Sgt. David Allen Stone began playing his guitar and singing songs from Jamy Johnson, Johnny Cash, Luke Combs, and another original by 1st SGT. Stone, “Bury These Burdens”, which truly encompassed the whole feeling of what the Warriors Walk and Headstrong Project stand for.” Stone an Iraqi War Vet 05’-06 and 08’- 09’ came up from Crawford County IL. to play the event. Stone commented he has played Nashville, Texas, Alabama, and other southern places but this was the farthest north he’s ever played now. Stone went on to agree to come back next year for the 4th Annual Warriors Walk scheduled for September 9th of 2023.

After a week of receiving donations, the VFW discovered the amount raised was over $26, 000 and more are still coming in. The goal was $20,000 and it was met and, well, surpassed. The VFW will host a non-informal award night on November 16th at approximately 7 p.m. to recognize the large donors as well as donate the final amount to a representative of the Headstrong project.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to every Walker, Donor, Volunteer, the Village of New Lenox, Mayor Tim Balderman, Will County, NLPD, NL Emergency Services, NLFPD, VFW Post 9545 Auxiliary, and Every Vendor that worked tirelessly to help make this 3rd Annual Warrior Walk a huge success.

A Special Thanks to Harry E. Anderson VFW Post 9545, Commander Tim Terrell, and the entire VFW Membership for taking in this Veteran with open arms and believing in his passion for this project to sponsor it and help to raise over $52,000 these past 3 years. I can’t thank you enough.

Ryan Brazel

BM1 USN

Member, VFW Post 9545