More than 25 different organizations, governmental agencies and veteran-allied groups, provided information, medical screenings and service to veteran event attendees and their family members, during a military veteran’s suicide prevention program, hosted by Jamestown Community College, Aug. 9. P-J photos by Christopher Blakeslee

Military veterans are taking their own lives at a rate of 22 a day, according to the United States Department of Veteran Affairs, in 2020.

However, while this number may have been reduced slightly, veteran suicide is still very much an ongoing and present issue. On American soil, soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, coastguardsmen and national guardsmen are still taking their own lives at alarming rates, and something must be done about it.

“We’re hosting a Veteran Suicide Prevention Day,” said Cindy Reidy the Chautauqua County Pfc. Jospeh Dwyer project coordinator. “More than 25 different organizations which offer services for veterans are here.”

The event, hosted at Jamestown Community College, which itself has a sizable veteran student population, is focused on making sure veterans have not only the support they need, but are also exceeding and achieving their educational goals.

“We have a veteran-only lounge (passcode protected) at our main campus and satellite campuses -along with providing accommodations -as need- to not only veterans, but all students,” said Don Pool, an accessibility service coordinator, for JCC, and formerly a combat engineer, U.S. Army, and JCC/SUNY Fredonia alumnus graduate. “Additionally, to try and remain as inclusive as we can, we offer military veterans the in-state tuition rate, even if they’re not from here and we work with them to find any and all funding they may need or qualify for.”

Furthermore, the college’s leader has first-hand knowledge of the challenges veterans face as they try to integrate post-military into life.

“Our college President, Dr. Daniel DeMarte, is himself a military veteran and has been instrumental in some of the advances to our programing for veteran and military-aligned students,” added Pool.

While JCC appears to be a perfect community gathering point for this event, it’s what this institution of higher learning inordinately offers that is a real boon for the veteran community in Chautauqua County.

“I love coming to the campus (JCC),” said Stephen Olsson, a Vietnam Era veteran and local community member. “The campus is beautiful and its kind of relaxing here, plus, I don’t get out that much, so its nice to run into all my brothers and sisters-in-arms.”

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