Laughter Is the Best Medicine
Vets hike in their shorts to raise awareness of veteran suicide
A curious sight heralds an important cause on The Ohio State University campus this weekend.
At 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, a group of local veterans from all branches of the armed forces will gather at Ohio Stadium clad only in their military silkies. They will proceed through campus so attired – stopping at Out-R-Inn, Chumley’s, Eddie George’s Grille 27 and the Varsity Club, among other locations – and ending back at the Shoe.
There’s a reason why these veterans aim to be so noticeable: They’re using humor to raise awareness of the pressing issue of veteran suicides.
Data from the U.S. Department of Veteran Services have shown that roughly 22 veterans per day – or one every 65 minutes – committed suicide between 1999 and 2010.
To that end, participants will hike a total of 22 kilometers, each carrying a 22-kilogram rucksack, for those 22 veterans per day.
More than 180 veterans are already signed up via Facebook.
“We do this through humor and the brotherhood we all don’t realize we still have,” says Marine Jimmy Hughes, who is coordinating the event.
Participants will occasionally don shirts when bar rules require them, but otherwise, it’s silkies and rucksacks only until the end.
The Silkies Hike concept was started by Irreverent Warriors, a California-based nonprofit aimed at using humor and camaraderie to help raise awareness of veteran suicide and to help veterans heal the mental wounds suffered during combat.
The initial Silkies Hike took place in San Diego in July. Since then, hikes have been held in Houston, Tampa, New York City, Atlanta, Denver, Austin and Washington, D.C., to name a few.
