22 Tags Will Hang From Trees Around Montco, Bucks, For Veteran Suicide Awareness

A local veterans advocacy group will hang 22 sets of dog tags on trees around Montgomery and Bucks county to help raise awareness of veterans experiencing mental health issues. The 22 tags represent the 22 veterans who, on average, commit suicide everyday, according to the Veterans Community Network.

The Veterans Community Networking with local organizations to establish the remembrance.

“I travel around Montgomery and Bucks County quite a bit. Wherever I go I talk to people about our military," said Glen Miller, an Army Ranger and founder of VCN. "More often than not folks just do not know that the suicide rate for veterans is much higher than the general population. Why is the veteran suicide rate 21% higher than other adults living in the United States that are not veterans?”

The 22ADay remembrance has manifested itself in many ways. It began as a 22 push up a day challenge. Organizers said that the mission will continue "until 22 is 0."

The tags will hang on trees until November 13, which is just two days after Veterans Day on November 11.

“The witnessing (of the tags) does not provide a solution to this traumatic trend," Miller said. "Witnessing does, however, raise the consciousness for all of us and hopefully those passing by will stop and ask or join us.”