Monmouth County Cop Walks to Washington to Raise Awareness of Veteran PTSD

TRENTON -- A navy veteran from Monmouth County is among three men who made a three-day, 237-mile trek by foot from the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Holmdel to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC, to raise awareness and funds of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD often plagues military veterans, who are 50% more likely than civilians to commit suicide. Michael Dowens, along with National Guard member Brian Zarnowski and another fellow veteran, began their journey to DC to raise awareness of this serious issue.

Dowens, a Holmdel police officer, sought help for his PTSD at The Refuge, a PTSD and trauma center in Florida that helps those with PTSD overcome their trauma and accompanying survivor’s guilt. Dowens’ mission now is to raise funds for an in-the-work nonprofit, Unbroken Warriors, that will help send a veteran to receive treatment at The Refuge.

Dowens met with Monmouth County Assembly Members Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey on Tuesday during a meeting for the Disabled American Veterans 74, where he shared his story and his mission. During the meeting, Houghtaling and Downey shared a variety of issues and legislation they are working on related to veterans issues.

“Officer Downes is certainly an inspiration, and a reminder that we need to keep this issue in the spotlight,” said Houghtaling (D-Monmouth), “Over the Memorial Day weekend we remembered those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, and now we need to take care of those who have already served, and who need our help.”

“There is so much more we can do to address the trauma and PTSD our veterans and military personnel face,” said Downey (D-Monmouth), “I think about a lot, because it’s so tragic to imagine that so many veterans are driven to suicide. Anything we can do to save those lives would be worth it.”