Murphy – The 11th annual 22Hump march for veteran suicide awareness and veterans’ needs within Cherokee County was held Saturday and was a success, according to Warriors Veteran Outreach Director Mark Ware.
The 22Hump featured a number of first-time walkers, including Amber Carlton, of Blairsville, Ga., who said this was “my way to honor my family who served in the military.”
Carlton said her brother, father and mother had all served in the Marines, and her sister served in the Navy. This was her way of acknowledging both their sacrifice and to help bring the sad statistics of veteran suicides to the forefront of the community.
Carlton also joined in with a group of four ladies, all friends from Hayesville, three of whom were also first-time walkers. Among this group of ladies were Debbie Swanson, Joann Claypoole, Debbie LaFontaine and Navy veteran Jan Chatterton, who is also a veteran of the 22Hump, returning proudly for her fifth walk with WVO.
When asked about their first-time walking they all credited their friendship with Chatterton as the inspiration for participating.
“We’ve been friend for over three years now,” Swanson said. “And now we’re here to support our veterans and their needs. We’re also going to do the 22Hump sponsored by the Hayesville American Legion next week, so this is our practice.”
In his opening remarks before the walk began, Ware also acknowledged that sacrifice veterans make and the difficulty of reintegrating to civilian life by citing a recent study from Duke University that estimates the rate of veterans taking their lives has climbed to 44 per day, which doubles the initial 22 statistic from years’ past.
“We have to help make a difference to these veterans and let them know there are resources available for them. We have to encourage those who need help to seek it out and we must be there for them.”
Volunteer Tom Murphy, from Mountain Man ministry at Shepherd of the Mountains Church, led the group in the opening prayer for safety and strength as then Ron Resch led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Former WVO director and volunteer Lorrie Rooney was also on hand for her fourth year of handing out breakfast snacks and registering walkers and participating in the walk, marching again to honor her son Alan J. Rooney whom she lost to suicide in 2020.
The group left out from the public parking lot behind Mason Bar in their usual formation with Gary Wilson as initial flag-bearer for the first portion of the 11 mile stretch to Marble.
Another first time walker, Tim Merrill of Murphy, said he was there to support both those who serve and those who have given their lives in service or have suffered the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder and that this wouldn’t be the last time he walked for the cause.
Rest stops were held periodically along the route with Tom Murphy and Kelley Blenda riding as support teams with both water and snacks to help the walkers.
Once again, the group marched inside their typical route along the entire right lane of U.S. 19/74 East to the first 11-mile stretch to the Marble intersection and then for the return trip of 11 miles back to downtown Murphy.
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office again provided a front and following escort along with a large mobile road sign from the North Carolina Department of Transportation that read “Slow Down Move Over” to remind the surges of local and tourist traffic to be cautious and respectful of the group along their route.
Ware quickly emphasized that this is not a race, it is a walk, at everyone’s pace and to that end, the group rallied along the highway to cheers, salutes and waves as the traffic respected the somber crowd’s cause.
This year’s souvenir shirts were gold and black once again printed with the logo “IGY6” meaning “I’ve Got Your Six,” which refers to the saying used by military and law enforcement which originated with World War I fighter pilots. The position of “Six” refers to having one’s “back” in formation and the saying has been coined for usage since to refer to also being back-up or a solid foundation for a “brother or sister” in need in both combat and in civilian life.
The all-volunteer group comprising Warriors Veteran Outreach helps veterans from every branch of service who reside in Cherokee County, after a complete vetting process, with fulfilling material needs such as building wheelchair ramps to cutting fallen trees off fences during storms or other situations from providing assistance with groceries to providing a full tank of gas if the need is made known to them.
The WVO welcomes the public and interested volunteers and meets the first Tuesday of every month at their new location, the former Marine Corps League building in Andrews, at 4955 Airport Road. There are no dues or fees for joining the group.
Details: Warriors Veteran Outreach can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 828.557.6881 or visit warriorsveteranoutreach.com.