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The Putnam County Walk, sponsored by the Carmel Teachers’ Association, will start at the Carmel Fire Department on Gleneida Avenue at 11 a.m. This year’s goal is to raise $21,000.
“We would greatly appreciate any support that you can give to this worthwhile cause,” said Rohde. “We will be walking as part of the Pfc. Joseph Dwyer Veterans Peer-to-Peer Program of Putnam County team,” he said.
Rohde and Hanley will be walking in memory of two Putnam County veterans who took their own lives. Matthew Oliveri, 28, was a Coast Guard veteran who served two deployments to the Persian Gulf. He took his own life on Feb. 11, 2012. Matthew Menchen, a Marine Corps veteran, was an active-duty Marine from 2000 to 2006. During part of his time in service, he deployed aboard the USS Portland. Menchen committed suicide on July 16, 2014 and was buried on July 21, on what would have been his 38th birthday. Also supporting the Putnam County Walk will be County Executive MaryEllen Odell.
“Learning from Karl of the number of veterans who commit suicide was heartbreaking,” said Odell.
“Anything we can do to help these fine men and women who are so impacted by their tours of duty that they cannot find their way forward in life. This has to be has to be a priority for us, certainly as a community but also as a nation." Odell called attention to the free Putnam County Cares app which offers suicide prevention information on its S.P.E.A.K. button. To donate on either Rohde’s or Hanley’s page, visit the AFSP website at http://afsp.donordrive.com. Walk donations are accepted until Wednesday, Dec. 31.
For more information on the Putnam County Walk, contact Maria Idoni at 914-610-9156 or email her at midoni@afsp.org.
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