FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 19, 2020
CONTACT: press@IAVA.org

The Veteran Support Organization will hold its 9th annual moment of silence in honor of all veterans who died in service of the US Armed Services.

New York, NY – This Memorial Day, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) will hold its 9th annual moment of silence at 3pm local time to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service of the US Armed Forces. The organization urges all Americans to join in this national moment of remembrance and take the pledge at iava.org/go-silent.

Over the last nine years, IAVA has held this annual moment of silence on Memorial Day. This year, the organization is additionally seeking to raise awareness of those veterans who died by suicide. Our country loses an astounding 20 veterans a day to suicide, nearly twice the average of their civilian counterparts.

“Any loss of a service member is a tragedy, but the loss of a veteran to suicide is not only tragic, it is completely preventable” said Jeremy Butler, CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. “The pandemic has spiked overall mental health challenges, making COVID-19 a recipe for disaster for our veterans. This Memorial Day, we urge all Americans to #GoSilent in honor of those we have already lost and stand with us to protect those who have sacrificed so much to protect us.”

As part of its #GoSilent campaign this year, IAVA is urging congress to pass the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act, which includes vital provisions to find and treat at-risk veterans, ensuring they have access to quality resources and care. “Passage of this bill would mean more could be done for veterans in addressing mental health needs and preventing suicide,” Butler added.  

Founded by an Iraq veteran in 2004, IAVA is the non-partisan leader inadvocacy,public awareness and1-on-1 care management and peer support. We organizelocally, drive historic impacts nationally and fight for over 400,000 veterans and their allies nationwide. If a veteran or their family is in need of assistance now, please reach out to IAVA’s Quick Reaction Force at quickreactionforce.org or 1-855-91RAPID (855-917-2743) to be connected promptly with a veteran care manager who will assist you.