Reader Moved by Veterans Suicide Rate

Your Aug. 11 issue led with a lengthy article concerning veterans. Yet, I thought the most important information in the article was found at its end and feel the information should have been on the front page and above the fold. That's the fact that 22 U.S. VETERANS COMMIT SUICIDE EVERY DAY.  

I did some research and found that 202 of those suicides (as of 2018) occurred in Michigan, and that the suicide rate among vets in our state slightly exceeds the U.S. average. I also found that while combat deaths continue to decline, suicides continue to rise. The reasons? No one is exactly sure, but it includes mental, physical, moral and sexual stress; post-traumatic stress; failure to reintegrate into civilian life; high exposure to guns; and more. 

I, for one, am glad that Clare County offers services to veterans. Your article (even if I did have to read it to the end) told me why.

Marty Johnson

Harrison