WalkforVets.org launches 4,150 mile cross country walk for PTSD awareness
Published by John Ring on September 14, 2023
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Walk Begins
Sunday, October 1, 2023 (1:00 pm EST)
Southernmost Point of the Continental U.S.A (Landmark) walking 4.5 miles to American Legion Post 28 (5610 College Rd, Key West, Florida 33040
Monday, October 2, 2023 (8:00 am EST)
American Legion Post 28 to mile marker 27 (US HWY 1)
Beginning on October 1, 2023, members of WalkforVets.org will be taking their first steps on a cross-country walk we’ve named the PTSD Warriors Walk - Corner to Corner.
This trek, the longest we’ve done to date, will consist of 4,150 miles from Key West, Florida, to Forks, Washington. We will walk through Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arizona, California, Oregon and Washington, to raise awareness of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, also known as PTSD.
The spark that ignited this walk began in early 2022 when WalkforVets.org hosted its 22 States 22 Days mission. During that mission, a group of veterans walked 2.2 miles at each state capital in 22 states in 22 consecutive days. Also attending that mission was Flags of Honor Escorts Founder, David McElroy.
"We wanted to raise awareness for everyone suffering, or watching someone suffer from PTSD. Often, PTSD backs people into a corner", said John Ring, Founder of WalkforVets.org
This walk is in honor of USMC Combat Veteran Steven Osborne and everyone we’ve lost to PTSD. In March 2022, Steven lost his internal battle and took his own life. Steven publicly shared his story and his goodbye. Steven wanted to potentially help other people. dealing with his struggles. Steven’s letter is on our homepage. We will walk to San Diego and meet with Steven’s family and present Steven’s son with our mission flag at the U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Depot.
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WalkforVets.org began with Ring’s first cross-country walk, Buddy Watch Walk Pier to Pier, on October 1, 2019. Ring, a U.S. Army Infantryman Veteran and Mineola, Texas, American Legion Post 296 Commander, set out to walk across the U.S. advocating for all veteran issues including PTSD, military sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury and many more.
Buddy Watch Walk Pier to Pier began on Tybee Island Pier, Georgia, and ended on June 14, 2020 on the Santa Monica Pier in California.
During the trek, a few other veterans joined Ring on this mission: U.S. Army Retired Master Sergeant Jimmy Mathews, U.S. Navy Veteran Jason Hanner and U.S. Army Veteran Eli Hawkins. All completed the walk to Santa Monica with amazing support.
Several organizations supported the mission including the American Legion, the American Legion Auxiliary, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of America and First Responders all across the United States. Many local people, businesses and organizations helped support the mission by providing meals and lodging along the route.
Hotels and many amazing businesses, such as Jimmy John's, supported the mission as well. Georgia residents, Willie Myers and his daughter Brandi Myers, traveling across the country together paused their trip in Van Horn, Texas, when they met Ring and Mathews. The two provided support for nearly 1,500 miles of Buddy Watch Walk Pier to Pier.
On October 1, 2020, a few months after completing Buddy Watch Walk Pier to Pier, walkers gathered in Jackson, Mississippi, to walk back to Tybee Island, Georgia in support of Mathews completing the entire trek across the U.S. Mathews had not joined Ring until he was passing through Jackson during the original walk to Santa Monica. Buddy Watch Walk East was completed on December 3, 2020.
On December 23, 2020, U.S. Air Force Bernadette Meehl and U.S. Air Force Veteran Joey Dannelley organized a 3.5 mile walk in Dover, Delaware.
In January 2021, WalkforVets.org gathered with Fight The War Within and Armed Forces Mission in Killeen, Texas, to help educate attendees on suicide prevention and walked 2.2 miles to advocate for veteran suicide.
On April 2, 2021, U.S. Air Force Veteran Bernadette Meehl organized a 2.2 mile walk in Erie, Pennsylvania.
On May 15, 2021, WalkforVets.org participated in a 2.2 mile walk in Spirit Lake, Idaho, with a U.S. Army Veteran Rob Street. Rob participated in a previous walk, and was inspired to organize his own. I
n August 2021, after the Goldstars Tribute Wall TM was displayed in Mineola, Texas, WalkforVets.org walked 26 miles from Mineola to Winnsboro, Texas advocating veteran issues.
On October 1, 2021, U.S. Army Gulf War Veteran John Mumby walked from Winnsboro, Texas, to Austin, Texas, for Gulf War Research.
On February 2, 2022, WalkforVets.org started the 22 States, 22 Days mission that began in Augusta, Maine, and ended in Indianapolis, Indiana. The group of veterans walked 2.2 miles in 22 states in 22 consecutive days for Veteran Suicide Awareness.
On August 6, 2022, WalkforVets.org organized a walk in Selma in honor of U.S. Marine Sgt. John Barbee KIA August 6, 1968. WalkforVets.org and the City of Selma, hosted Mrs. Patricia Barbee and walked over the Edmund Pettus Bridge with Sgt. John Barbee's burial flag.
On September 23, 2022, U.S. Navy Veteran Jason Hanner began his walk across his home state of Nebraska.
On October 1, 2022, John Mumby started a walk from Waskom, Texas, to El Paso, Texas. WalkforVets.org supported his mission across the state.
On September 9, 2023, John Mumby organized a 26 mile walk from Winnsboro to Sulphur Springs, Texas for Veteran Suicide Awareness.
Below are some of the stories from participants on how the walk helped them through difficult times.
U.S. Army Combat Veteran Michael McCarthy
It was June 14, 2020. As the nation fights against the most trying medical pandemic in history, I’m trying to grieve.
My Mom passed unexpectedly just prior to COVID shutting down the nation. I had no idea how to handle this stress. I had now lost both my parents, my grandmother, and my brother had just had a heart attack after finding my Mom. This has got to be one of the lowest points I my life.
I never learned or knew how to deal with REAL issues. I’d lash out in anger, become so enraged, and just mean. Driving around used to help, but then gas skyrocketed. My health began to deteriorate, my weight ballooned to 235 pounds. I just had my second knee surgery, I’ve had a total of 5 surgeries, lost my hearing, and a few other issues.
I worked for The County of San Bernardino welfare department for almost 15 months years. June 12, 2020 I was in a supervisor’s office, a real friend, she knew the issues I have and face. So she wanted to share John’s reason for doing the walk. At that moment, I knew my legs were in trouble, I HAD to walk. 17 pain pills a day, not so great health, no help from the VA. STILL NO MENTAL HEALTH HELP FROM THE VA! NONE!
I’m six months out of surgery, my wife was against me walking, I wasn’t in ANY kind of good shape. I had to promise her I’d stop once my knee began to hurt.
At 0800 on June 14 , at the Hollywood American Legion post 43 I believe, was the starting point. When I arrived, John was opening the gates. Eli, Jason, Jimmy, and Paco were nervous, anxious, and still strangers to me.
Why did I decide to do this walk? Because I had already been to the VA for mental health related issues, service connected injuries, and was still learning to communicate without being able to hear. Saying excuse me to someone after every sentence is embarrassing. Limping around in pain, not being able to control my emotions, being the biggest I have ever been, I had given up on happiness.
I had thought of ways to die, wished I would have at one point, just wasn’t ready to continue.
This walk, was my final attempt to get help or someone that could help me get the help.
We walked thru/alongside a BLM Rally in downtown. At the other end of that rally…..a pride rally. Two completely different worlds probably working together for the first time. As John has said, he likes to stop and talk with people. We/John explained the walk, we were offered water and we’re on our way. Near a VA medical facility he talked to other vets. I started noticing that he, John, was really gathering intel from the vets. Where do they sleep, eat, get medicine, general small talk.
After 13.3 miles, and about 2 to four steps I collapsed into my wife’s arms….in full tears. I did it, I freakin did it, when not many people, MYSELF included, thought I could.
The 13.3 miles changed me. It took over 6 hours of walking. The stories I heard, problems others faced. I realized I wasn’t alone. I also realized that when I get that stressed, I needed an outlet.
I finally realized that there’s people that care how vets are being treated. That day KCAL 9 was there and did a story about Walkforvets.org. At the end of that story, the reporter mentions that John had talked to a veteran contemplating or had contemplated suicide.
My name is Michael D. McCarthy. The veteran John spoke to at the end of Santa Monica Pier. I’m here today, because I walked 13.3 miles with a sailor, a tanker, an infantryman, and an Army Ranger! I walked with brothers!!!!
U.S. Air Force Combat Veteran Joey Dannelley
I'm Joey Dannelley. I have PTSD & other issues due to events that happend during my time in Iraq. In August 2018 I tried to take my life. I was in such mental crisis, I saw no other way to stop the pain. In 2020, I was still not in a very good place mentally. I was constantly contemplating suicide &, like many other Vets, thought I was all alone in the fight. I quickly learned that wasnt true. I had gotten so bad that I only left the house for doctor appointments, PTSD Support Group, & maybe church. I literally hated life & wanted OUT. My family & friends were always telling me they were worried about me which only made things worse. I felt I had become a burden or an annoyance to everyone.
In October 2020, 1 of my Air Force sisters, & best friends, heard about this group of guys walking from California to Georgia to raise awareness for PTSD & Soldier Suicide. They were calling themselves "Buddy Watch Walk" ( WalkforVets.org) and she decided she was going to join them. Bernadette Meehl was witnessing the struggles I was going through, seeing the lack of help I was getting, & said she needed to do something for everyone like me. It was through her that I met John Ring, Jason Hanner, Jimmy Mathews, & Paco Baltazar. I instantly felt something for these people. They were walking to bring awareness to the issues that I was fighting. It felt as if they were walking for ME. They did daily updates every morning. They talked about a fallen brother/sister, & dedicating that days miles to them. When they stopped for the night, they talked about the importance of helping those in crisis, passing on info & making connections with local government people, news media, & everyone else that would listen. Bernadette used those morning updates to tell the storie of a friend of hers who needed help. That friend was me and I was so grateful. Finally I was seeing someone doing something to try to help me, SOMEBODY was showing they care. I no longer felt alone. This small crew of people made me feel important.
In December 2020, Bernadette had the idea to do a walk where we live, so WE organized a 2.2 mile walk. I felt such pride in being able to take part in something so important. From then on I felt I had a purpose. This group of people helped me climb out of "the suicide rabbit hole" & gave me a new way to look at life. I realized that talking about what I was going through not only helped me, but it showed others they aren't alone. I found a way for ME to help get out of "the rabbit hole". I was no longer just someone who needed support from thers, I can now BE that support. I owe my life to WalkforVets.org, Bernadette, John & his crew. If not for them, I probably would have try to take myself out again. I haven't had a suicide attempt since August 2018. To say I'm grateful is an understatement.
Route: HWY 1 (Florida) to HWY 41 (Florida) to HWY 90/98 (WEST Florida to California) northern route from San Diego to Forks, Washington will be updated at a later date.
