A group of Wisconsin veterans began a journey across the state on Friday morning in an effort to raise awareness about what life is like with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Before sunrise, Travis Good threw his ruck on his back, and had his friend attach an American flag to the bag before beginning the trek. Good is an Army and Air Force veteran and has been deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. He has PTSD, a condition that’s affected everything from getting a good night’s sleep to his ability to hold a job.
Good is raising awareness and money for veterans with PTSD by marching across from La Crosse to Milwaukee and stopping at VA hospitals in Tomah, Madison, and Milwaukee. He said he wants more veterans to be open about PTSD.
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“A lot of people, especially the guys, try to play the tough guy,” he said. “You’re just going to hurt yourself and others if you don’t do anything about it. You need to be open. You need to talk with your spouse and get on with your life.”
Several veterans and psychologists will be joining Good along the way, including Gene Bennett of La Crosse, who served in the Army Reserves. He said that PTSD has affected his short-term memory and sleep. He said that he hopes the march will help him move on from what’s been a difficult year.
“So I can say I finished something, so I got something done,” he said. “Or maybe I’ll help somebody. It’ll make me feel a little better. I need this walk just so I can have a win as bad as awareness needs to be raised — that’s why I’m doing it, you know?”
The walkers will stop for a salute every 65 minutes. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, that’s how often a veteran takes his or her own life.
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