Cover photo: The SAR sign at Heritage Park (Credit – Matt Meduri)
The discussions of mental health, substance abuse, the opioid epidemic, and staggering divisiveness of the world always culminate in one topic: Veterans, or more accurately, resources for Veterans.
Unfortunately in the center of the Venn Diagram with the aforementioned problems included, Veterans and their health and resources are of frequent interest and action from civic groups, community leaders, and elected officials.
In the spring, freshman Suffolk County Legislator Chad Lennon (C-Rocky Point) sponsored a bill to designate September 22 as Veterans’ Suicide and Awareness Remembrance Day, with September already nationally recognized as Suicide Prevention Month and with the date of September 22 mirroring the estimated twenty-two Veterans who take their own lives each day.
The resolution had the unique distinction of every Legislator signing on as a cosponsor, which was then signed into law by County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) in April.
This past Sunday was the first newly-designated September 22 in the eyes of Suffolk County. A solemn memorial was held at Heritage Park in Mount Sinai on Sunday afternoon.
“Today, we take the steps in recognizing that we have an issue, and recognizing that we have an issue is how we’re going to solve an issue,” said Legislator Lennon, a Marine combat Veteran and current Reservist who served as the ceremony’s keynote speaker.
“Suicide may not be an issue by itself, but that’s what it means when it’s ‘layered.’ Homelessness, unemployment, depression, physical pain, and other mental health issues our service members are in,” said Lennon. “This is what leads to a feeling of hopelessness.”
Lennon, who also serves as Vice Chair of the Veterans Committee, added that such issues are not reserved for those who saw combat, but for those who serve in general.
“You might be stationed in any one of our military bases around the country thinking that you are in the American culture. The reality is you’re really not,” said Lennon. “In your station, you are in a different culture. You are told ‘this is your lane, you stay in your lane.’ You ensure that everyone else stays in their lanes. You might be living on base, and when that time comes to transition out of the military back into civilian life, all of a sudden, you discover everyone is in each other’s lanes. You don’t know where to go. You feel overwhelmed.”
Lennon said that despite his current title as “Legislator,” the title that will “remain” with him “forever” is that of “Marine, Veteran, and brother to every single service member, Veteran, Blue Star Family, and Gold Star Family.”
“I don’t care where you are or where you live, if you need help, please call my office, said Lennon, further recommending that the public take action to intervene on behalf of others’ suicidal ideations.
“Let’s do twenty-two phone calls, let’s do twenty-two ‘buddy checks,’ and make sure we’re all doing okay. It doesn’t take a mental health specialist to make a difference, but a shoulder to lean on,” said Lennon. “Together, all of us as a community, are going to get this number twenty-two down to where it should be: zero.”
Lennon also remarked on Suffolk County’s large Veteran population: the largest in the state and second-largest in the country, behind San Diego. New York also has the sixth-largest Veteran population in the country.
“We here in Suffolk County are going to set the example for the rest of this country to follow to bring this epidemic to a close,” said Lennon.
A small fair was also held in conjunction with the remarks to provide resources to Veterans who might be struggling with the issues discussed.
A host of Veterans’ organizations were also present, including, but not limited to, Paws of War, Warrior Ranch Foundation, Blue Star Mothers of Nassau and Suffolk Counties, as well as the Yaphank Civic Association, the Sound Beach Civic Association, and Jake’s 58 for providing logistical and community support for the event.
The North Shore Youth Council (NSYC), who hosts their events in the Heritage Center at the park, hosted the event. After renovations on the property, the gilded sign stating “Not all wounds are visible” will remain on the park grounds permanently.
In attendance also were Suffolk County Legislators Nick Caracappa (C-Selden), who serves as Chair of the Veterans Committee, Steve Englebright (D-Setauket), Rebecca Sanin (D-Huntington Station), Tom Donnelly (D-Deer Park), Suffolk County Clerk Vincent Puleo (R-Nesconset), State Senator Tony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk), Assemblyman Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson Station), and Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio (R-Baiting Hollow).
Heritage Park and the Heritage Center are located at 633 Mount Sinai-Coram Road in Mount Sinai.
