Arlington National Cemetery honors service members lost by suicide

In a first, Arlington National Cemetery honors service members lost by suicide

WUSA 9 News

Peggy Fox

September 1, 2017

ARLINGTON, VA (WUSA9) - For the first time, service members who have died by suicide were officially honored at Arlington National Cemetery on Friday. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention requested the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to honor all victims of suicide.

The gesture was enormously fulfilling to several family members of suicide victims watching and taking part in the ceremony.

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Note: Yet again, the wrong number is quoted in a report this important!

“The ceremony not only represented our veterans, which, on average, 22 veterans die a day from suicide, but it’s people coming together. People watching the changing of the guard and realizing this is a daily event,” said Gail Romansky, whose son Shaun, 30, died of suicide in 2010.