WHAT: As part of the Convoy to Combat Suicide, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), post-9/11 veterans, military families, Washington VIPs and members of the media will come together on Friday, August 15, 2014 at 4:30 pm at Nationals Park to watch the Washington Nationals play the Pittsburgh Pirates. The game begins at 7:05 pm.

Sponsored by Miller High Life, the annual Nationals Game is IAVA’s biggest event of the year in Washington with food, music and free tickets to IAVA members and their families.

Washington veterans face a number of critical challenges. In DC, as well as across the country, suicide is a top concern for new veterans: at least 22 veterans die by suicide each day. In IAVA’s 2014 Member Survey, 40 percent of respondents said they knew a veteran of Iraq or Afghanistan who has died by suicide.

More than 260,000 veterans are stuck in the VA backlog, including more than 6,200 in the Baltimore regional office, who are waiting more than 125 days for a claim. The average wait time in Baltimore is 210.9 days. In addition, post-9/11 veterans in DC face a 13.0 percent unemployment rate.

WHO: IAVA leadership

Post-9/11 veterans and their families

WHEN: Friday, August 15, 2014 at 4:30 pm

Baseball game starts at 7:05 pm

WHERE: Nationals Park, 1500 South Capitol St., SE, Washington, DC 20003