Concerns over high veteran suicide rate

Scores of people filled the Bledsoe County Courthouse Lawn to celebrate the service and sacrifice of local veterans on Monday, November 11.

Claude Lewis was the keynote speaker this year. Lewis was drafted into the U.S. Army at 22-years-old in 1964. In August 1965, he headed out to Vietnam and in October he landed in the jungle. Lewis didn’t spend much time talking about his service but instead moved into what he said are some startling statistics about suicide rates among veterans.

Lewis said veterans represent 8.5 percent of the population, with 18 percent of those who die by suicide.

For more see the November 14 issue of The Bledsonian Banner.