BUCYRUS — Those who drove by the Crawford County Courthouse in Bucyrus on Sunday, may have noticed a flag-draped casket, small picture frames with flags waving by them and someone standing silently in the middle of it all.
The display was to honor the memory, and bring awareness to, the average of 22 veterans who die by suicide every day.
Rob and Michele Hawks decided, with the help of the local AMVETS, they were going to bring the movement to Bucyrus.
“In nine counties around Ohio, there are similar events being held to bring awareness to the issue,” Rob Hawks said. “We are hoping that, next year, all 88 counties in Ohio will do something like this.”
This hit home with Michele. In 2008, her brother, who was a veteran who suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, tragically took his own life.
“We have 22 pictures of veterans from all across the country who have taken their own lives,” Rob said. “Some of them we know, some we don’t — the one up front on the corner is my wife’s brother, who took his life at 22.”
By putting these pictures out, it made the number 22 to be more than a number, they put faces behind the number — these individuals were someone’s son, daughter, mother or father.
The Hawks family thanked Wise Funeral Service for providing the casket for the display.
Rob and Michele were with the display from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
They accepted volunteers to stand silently by the casket for 15 minutes.
Any veteran in need of help, or anyone who knows a veteran who needs help, the Veteran Crisis Line to call is 1-800-273-8255 or text 838255. Those in need also may go to veteranscrisisline.net.