Edwards Airmen walk through darkness to fight suicide Published Oct. 1, 2018 By Giancarlo Casem 412th Test Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Edwards Air Force Base is not immune to the veteran suicide epidemic. According to the latest report from the Department of Veterans Affairs, 6,079 veterans committed suicide in 2016. Edwards Airmen are banding together to help stem the number, to “fight for life.” Airmen, veterans, family and friends participated in the Fight for Life Suicide Prevention and Awareness Event at Edwards Air Force Base, California, Sept. 28-29. The event was a 12-hour walk, run, or ruck march relay event. “Our mission was to bring together what we know to be a community of loss, under a banner of hope, a banner of community. We realized that there was a vital part of our conversation that wasn’t happening, so we thought the best way to do it was through a 12-hour long ruck,” said Staff Sgt. Joanna Cunningham, 412th Operations Support Squadron. “And we did, we did a lot of talking out there too. It was for hope, to let everybody know that we’re here for each other.” Cunningham, along with Staff Sgt. Ashley Hookey, also with 412th OSS, organized the event. They both said that the overnight event symbolized the commitment that Airmen have to each other, that no matter what time it is, help is available. Marine Corps veteran Denver Morris said being connected to other veterans has helped him through depression and substance abuse problems. “Now is the time to get connected,” Morris said. “Suicide is very real, so now is the time to make those connections.” Morris now serves as a program coordinator for the Los Angeles branch of Merging Vets with Players. MVP is a non-profit organization that matches veterans and athletes to help them both transition to life after the uniform comes off. Morris added that all servicemembers are like family and that they should all look out for each other. Two participants write down who they are marching for during the Fight for Life Suicide Prevention and Awareness Event at Edwards Air Force Base, California, Sept. 28-29. The event was an overnight relay ruck march, run or walk. (U.S. Air Force photo by Giancarlo Casem) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res The sentiment of togetherness and family was echoed by 412th Test Wing Command Chief Master Sergeant, Chief Master Sgt. Roosevelt Jones. Jones shared two events in his career where Airmen had committed suicide. Jones said the lessons he learned from the first time he had to deal with an Airman’s suicide helped shape how he believes the veteran suicide battle can be fought. “That togetherness that a family can bring together to get a bunch of other folks through it, and get through whatever they’re dealing with, is a powerful thing. That’s what I want us to remember here, at this base, in this organization; that we can get through anything that we need to get through,” Jones said. “If we can confront it face on, if we can get through it together with love, compassion and empathy, then we’ll be better off. That’s how we’ll fight through it.”