Not On My Watch – Veterans Suicide Prevention Week

Every day 22 soldiers commit suicide in this country.  What a staggering and saddening fact.  After defending our lives, they feel they can no longer live their own.  Their PTSD and other mental health issues are not being treated or talked about, and it is causing us the loss of more lives on home soil then on foreign.

I was privileged enough to be able to volunteer my time to capture the first annual Not On My Watch Vigil that was held on the Pasadena Bridge over the week of June 21st 2015 and going into the closing ceremony on June 27th, 2015.  A volunteer veteran was posted everyday for 24 hours shifts on the Pasadena Bridge, aka “Suicide Bridge” to show solidarity for those suffering and to bing awareness to this issue.

On Saturday the veterans walked the bridge one last time and walked back with the Battlefield Cross.  The cross is a symbolic replacement of a cross on the battlefield or at the base camp for a soldier who has fallen. It is made up of the soldier’s rifle stuck into the ground or into the soldier’s boots, with helmet on top. Dog tags are sometimes placed on the rifle, and the boots of the fallen soldier can be placed next to the rifle. The purpose is to show honor and respect for the dead at the battle site. 

The people gathered consisted of veterans from WWII , Vietnam War, Korean War, Desert Storm, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and more wars that we probably don’t even know were fought. There were also family members of soldiers who fell in battle abroad, as well as those that could not cope when they returned home.  Also there were all the volunteers who had worked so hard to create this event as part of Wellness Works Glendale, as well as veterans groups from across Los Angeles.

I had a hard time photographing this event.  Most people who know me, know that I cry pretty easily, and trying to shoot this event was pretty hard, as focusing the camera with tears in your eyes is not easy.  It was a very emotional day for all, and I am hugely grateful that I was able to use my skills to photograph this cause.

If you know of anyone that needs some help with returning to civilian life, with PTSD or any other mental health issues I recommend for them to start at Wellness Works Glendale. Please let me know if you want to be involved next year.