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PICTORIAL OF 2009 OUT OF THE DARKNESS COMMUNITY WALK
(page 2 of 3)
There were over 1800 who came for the Walk. Many came individually, with friends or family -- yet, many came with a group. They all wanted to be part of suicide prevention.
Before our program, children were given American flags to hand out to celebrate our country and to support our troops.
Hundreds came together to listen to the program.
Our program was opened by the Portsmouth, Naval Hospital's Color Guard: Directed by HM2 Melissa Cason with HM3 Glenville Thomas, HN John Hipchen, HN Justin Seabrook, & led by HM2 Matthew Carter.
Our program of Remembrance, Celebration of Life & Hope offered information to raise awareness.
Eric Harryman, a news anchor for WAVY TV10 and FOX 43, extended a welcome and emceed the ceremony.
For the invocation the Reverend Mark Nieting of Hope Lutheran Church offered prayerful words of reassurance and hope.
Chris Gilchrist LCSW a family therapist and founder / facilitator of the Hampton Roads Survivors of Suicide Support Group gave information about suicide and the relationship between depression and suicide: the number one cause of suicide is untreated depression - depression is a disease - a treatable disease - therefore suicide can be prevented - lives can be saved!
Mike Lamma, the Affiliate Director of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, came all the way from New York City to be a part our program.
Richard Wentz, the Executive Director of the Portsmouth YMCA gave a personal testimony of his struggle with suicide and his successful treatment of it.
Religious columnist Betsy Wright Rhodes, of the Virginian-Pilot gave a compelling talk about her son's history of chronic pain and eventual suicide. She encouraged everyone to take our depression inventory as a tool to identify the symptoms of depression and to seek treatment.
Capt. Jon Greene, who had lost his Master Chief to suicide, very respectfully read the names of 137 loved ones who have died by suicide.
During the program hundreds were touched as their minds were changed with the information they gained about depression and suicide and their hearts were changed with the personal stories they heard and the names read who had lost their struggle with depression.
Please go to page 3 of our pictorial by clicking here
