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Hello,The Beal Veterans Association will be conducting our second annual ruck march for veteran suicide awareness on Monday, November 11th. We will walk through downtown Bangor, carrying packs and our memories of the fallen.
Last year, our walk was punctuated by conversation with members of the Bangor community, discussing their own experiences with veterans and the invisible weight that many of our neighbors, veterans and non-veterans alike, carry with them in their rucksacks. We discussed war, the difficulty of transitioning home, shared stories and thoughtful silence. We handed out VA-provided materials for suicide prevention.
If interested, please contact Fred Martinez for details ([email protected]).
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow…
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
-Laurence Binyon
Your fellow BVA members:
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Fred Martinez is an Afghanistan veteran and former combat medic. He enjoys writing poetry, gardening, hiking, and hunting– quiet pursuits in Maine’s fields and forests. Like many military veterans, he has lost friends. Three members of his thirty-two man route clearance platoon in Afghanistan, almost ten percent of his brothers, have lost their lives to suicide. Fred believes that community, purpose, and opportunities to serve others are all essential components of a successful and healthy transition to civilian life. He looks forward to welcoming all members of the community to BVA.
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Marshall DesJardin, RN is the president emeritus of BVA. He served with dedication in the Marine Corps, stationed in Brunswick, ME. As an infantryman, he specialized in breaching and anti-tank weaponry. Marshall is passionate about helping others, exercise and fitness, literature, the piano, snowboarding, motorcycling, technology and outdoor activities. He is interested in starting this program to give back and have the opportunity to be there for those who know what it's like to sacrifice so much of their life for the people of their country. He is hoping to build an active and engaging community that serves its members and its community.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
99 Farm Rd, Bangor, ME, United States, Maine 04401
