Weekend of activity planned to welcome Silent Battle

Gold Star Park is getting all dressed up with somewhere to "go."

Sunday will wrap up three days of community activities area veterans have generated to bring home the fact that post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide awareness are not just veterans' problems. The problems -- and the healing -- involve everyone, they say.

Here's the plan from the Silent Battle Committee, a group of 16 area veterans who represent 25 different veterans' organizations.

FRIDAY. The keyword is HONOR.

"Silent Battle; Light up the Darkness" will be a candlelight vigil to remember all who have departed the ranks by suicide. It's open to any civilians who want to participate, as well as veterans. The vigil will be on the Armory Square lawn, 241 Front St., beginning at 8 p.m. It is being held in partnership with the Suicide Awareness Alliance of Washington County. The vigil will end with Sarah Chichester playing the bagpipes and a bugle player for "Taps."

SATURDAY. The keyword is COURAGE.

"Silent Battle; Walk the Walk" will begin at 10 a.m. on the Armory Square lawn and move to East Muskingum Park. There will be a short ceremony and raising of the colors there, then a return to the Armory lawn. The walk is to raise awareness for suicide prevention and give a voice to the silent battle of PTSD and suicidal ideation.

"There is courage in numbers," the committee's poster for Saturday says. "Silence keeps the darkness close. Walk to end the silent battle within."

Again, all members of the public who feel the call to walk are welcome. The activity is held in partnership with the Suicide Awareness Alliance.

SUNDAY. The keyword is COMMITMENT.

There will be an honor escort of motorycles to Gold Star Park, with all law enforcement and first responders also invited to participate.

Staging for the procession will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Over the Moon Pub and Pizza, 170 Front St. Front Street will be closed for the staging of the bikes. The restaurant, which is owned by a Disabled American Veterans member, is usually closed on Sunday. However, it will be open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

Law enforcement will escort the procession through Harmar and to the park. Any motorcyclists who want to join the procession can get more details from AMVETS Veterans Service Commissioner Brad Webb at 740-236-3322. He is encouraging American flags to be displayed on the bikes.

NOTE ON PUBLIC PARKING:

Members of the public who drive to Gold Star Park for the 2 p.m. dedication ceremony should note that Lancaster Street in front of the park will be shut down. Only the motorcycles and vehicles for handicapped will be allowed to park inside the grounds. All others are to park in the Veritas school and Church of Christ lots. Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion groups will be running shuttles from Veritas to the park, starting at 12:30 p.m. Webb noted that arriving as early as 12:30 p.m., rather than waiting until close to 2, would help traffic flow and parking.

Anita Miller's sculpture to be installed at Gold Star Park is No. 3 of 10 in the first-edition production. Gold Star Park is the first permanent installation of the Silent Battle piece anywhere in the United States. The local Silent Battle Committee believes it may also be the first installed veterans' suicide awareness and PTSD memorial.

At the park, there will be a number of representatives of organizations that can help people deal with PTSD and suicidal thoughts: the Washington County Behavioral Health Board, Suicide Awareness, Mission 22, Save 22, Community Action, the VET Center, and others. Miller's painted memorial, "The Eyes of Freedom," will also be on display.

Silent Battle Committee founder and co-chair Jared Smith says both the sculpture and Miller's painting can touch viewers in a definite, positive way. And doing so in a supportive crowd can strengthen those feelings.

"You don't have to be a vet to have PTSD," Smith said. "You're not alone if you're a family that's been through a suicide or has a loved one who struggles with those thoughts. We want to emphasize that those aren't things to be ashamed of and hidden. We would rather love on you now than at your funeral."

The Silent Battle has the potential to become a movement, and a very warranted one, Smith said.

"You can look at that Silent Battle sculpture and see the struggle in his face and body position. Maybe you can say your own words to that Silent Warrior, who's trying to get the courage to heal. Whether you're a veteran or a civilian, the rest of us are here to listen appropriately and love on you. To encourage you to make it through tomorrow," he said.

Nancy Taylor can be reached at ntaylor@newsandsentinel.com.