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Veterans Business Network of ARCC to host Veteran Suicide Prevention Walk

Photo courtesy of Amanda Blanton.

GLENS FALLS, NY – The Veterans Business Network (VBN) of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) is once again hosting their annual Veteran Suicide Awareness & Prevention Walk in downtown Glens Falls, NY. The event will be held, rain or shine, on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 13th beginning in downtown Glens Falls City Park.

“As Chair of the ARCC’s VBN I have a small ask from our already supportive community. We Veterans have a saying – All gave some; Some gave ALL,” said Sean Dion, ARCC Veterans Business Network Chair. “This should not hold true once home from the battlefield. Many Veterans are either too proud, or do not know who to trust with their depression or PTSD. They are supposed to be free from danger once home! My small ask is to join the ARCC Veterans Business Network in City Park, Glens Falls, NY on 9/13/23 at 1600 and participate in our Suicide Awareness & Prevention walk. On average 22 Soldiers take their lives daily, and in my humble opinion, one is too many. Please come and support them!”

In 2021, the VBN partnered with the VFW Post 2475 to organize what was then known as the “Stop 22 Walk”. Stop 22 was an initiative, started in 2018, between the Department of NY Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and one of the nation’s leading health and well-being companies HUMANA, to increase awareness of Veterans committing suicide – 22 Veterans are lost each day.

In its third year, the walk has grown in attendance and offerings. Last year saw the addition of informational tables featuring resources and services for Veterans. This year, the plan is to offer the same, and even increase the number of tables.

“The leaders of the ARCC’s VBN have worked tirelessly to reach Veterans in our community to provide valuable connections to resources, business opportunities and each other. This will be the third year the VBN has hosted a walk to raise awareness of the epidemic of Veteran suicide. I am proud to help organize this vital initiative to support our veterans in need and raise funds to invest in prevention. I invite our community to walk with us and share this opportunity to raise awareness with your Veteran friends and colleagues. Even one lost life is too many,” said Carol Ann Conover, ARCC Liaison to the Veterans Business Network.

After brief greeting remarks, participants will walk a circuit around Downtown Glens Falls for 22 minutes in remembrance of those lost and to raise awareness of the need for prevention.

About the Veterans Business Network

The purpose of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Veterans Business Network is to promote and to serve the affinity group of Veteran and military service personnel, veteran and military member sole proprietorships, and veteran and military service professional members of the ARCC and to encourage increased business and collaboration among its ranks.

The bottom line, no matter what you currently do for work, if you are a Veteran and an ARCC member or a Veteran who is employed by an ARCC member, we would love for you to join the ARCC Veterans Business Network.

About the ARCC

Founded in 1914, the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) is a 100% membership funded organization representing in excess of 23,000 people predominantly in New York State’s Washington, Warren, Essex and Northern Saratoga Counties. The ARCC is a 501c6 not-for-profit corporation, governed by volunteer Board of Directors, and does not receive any funding from local, county or state governments. Our mission is to serve our members and business community through our advocacy efforts, education opportunities and the power of connection and collaboration.

Photo courtesy of Amanda Blanton.