American Legion web group Courage Carries On

Legion using Web to aid vets
In-Forum - Fargo,ND,USA

JAMESTOWN, N.D. – As it celebrates turning 90 years old, the North Dakota American Legion is looking to the future.
By: Katie Ryan, Jamestown (N.D.)

JAMESTOWN, N.D. – As it celebrates turning 90 years old, the North Dakota American Legion is looking to the future.

The branch – established in 1919 – is using online social-networking sites for serious purposes, such as finding help for veterans with mental illness and preventing suicide.

The North Dakota American Legion an-nounced its campaign, Courage Carries On, at the Legion’s winter conference Saturday in James-town.

Mental illness, whether caused by war or other traumatic experiences, is not only devastating, but can be deadly, said Jim Deremo, department service officer for the North Dakota American Legion. The results affect both soldier and family, he said.

“There’s a lot of people in these little, bitty communities that kind of suffer in silence,” he said.

According to Associated Press reports, suicide rates have risen since 2004 because of increasing stress on veterans from long and repeated tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Seven confirmed suicides were reported last month, compared with five a year earlier, and an additional 17 cases from January are under investigation, the AP reported.

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