The 22-hour vigil in Grove, Okla., paid respect to the estimated 22 veterans a day who die by suicide.
Among the things Steven Thomas wanted to do during his term as American Legion Department of Oklahoma commander was to raise awareness and help prevent veteran suicide.
Using “22 a day” as a basis, Thomas chose Nov. 22 as the date for such an event.
“I was not sure how well it would come together,” Thomas said. “(I) couldn’t predict the weather.
“But there wasn’t a day that I could think that would represent the idea any better.”
And so for 22 hours beginning at 2 p.m. Nov. 22, Thomas, other Oklahoma Legion Family leadership, and others stood vigil at a flag-draped casket outside the Grove Community Center in Grove, Okla.
Each shift of two to four guards stood vigil for 22 minutes, with a proper ceremonial changing of the guard each time, Thomas said.
Thomas began working on the project two months ago, “to find all the resources that it was going to take with the static displays, venue and support.
“Once I secured the venue and the casket set-up, I called my friend, SAL Detachment Commander Chris Sherbourne, and told him my vision, and he was 100 percent on board,” Thomas said.
Thomas, Sherbourne, Unit President Kim McInnis and National Vice Commander Jerry Landkamer took the first shift. “We ended up having roughly 100 different people take a shift or multiple shifts to complete the goal,” Thomas said.
The vigil impacted not only the Legion Family, but the families of veterans and others who had died by suicide.
“We had a small number of family members come through that had lost loved ones to suicide who shared their stories and tears with us and their thanks for putting this together to bring awareness and hopes that maybe it would prevent one more from giving in and one less family to have to endure the tragedy,” Thomas said.
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