The Storm is almost here!

In less than 48 hours, over 30 veteran leaders from 16 states across the country will come to Washington for the 10th annual Storm the Hill. They’ll hit the pavement, meeting with members of Congress and policymakers at the VA, DoD, and the White House to talk about IAVA’s top legislative priority in 2014: combating veteran suicide.

The statistics are alarming: 22 veterans a day die by suicide. But the data also says that getting help, helps. That’s why we’re encouraging vets in crisis to take the first step toward getting help – and why we are pushing our lawmakers to ensure that help is both readily available and high-quality. We’re asking the President and Congress to adopt priorities and recommendations to bridge the gaps in care and ultimately break through the negative stigma that is too often associated with seeking help.

And we’re asking you to get involved, too.

Over the next week, we’ll be launching We’ve Got Your Back: IAVA’s Campaign to Combat Suicide. The campaign will specifically:

1. Raise awareness and empower the nation to connect 1 million veterans with information and support from IAVA’s partners and programs.
2. Push the President to issue a national call to action and change policy with a historic Executive Order.
3. Demand Congress pass a comprehensive legislative package that combats suicide.

This campaign will change lives. But changing lives isn’t easy — or cheap. It will take all of us standing with our veterans to make sure that this alarming trend of losing 22 veterans a day to suicide starts to reverse. It will take all of us to make sure that Storm the Hill is a success. It will take all of us, and it starts with you.

At Storm the Hill, we make sure that Washington isn’t just talking about veterans — they’re talking to veterans.

Thank you for your support!