As a veteran who lost a very close (military member) friend to suicide, thank you for this post. I have said goodbye to far too many people before their time. It is never easy. What you have written here is special. You are right - a loss / death is just that. Someone went away, and did not come home. Period. This is a really hard time of year for many people, myself included - for many reasons. It's always nice to know that people care and are willing to make and BE the difference. I will stand with you with this petition. Thank you on behalf of veterans and servicemembers everwhere.

1 | Left by Laura | May. 29, 2011 at 9:32pm

I am currently serving in the military. This blog post was so heartwarming. I have gone through bad times and with the positive influence from TWLOHA, my family and friends..I have overcame. In honor of my past struggling, I got my TWLOHA half sleeve. Thank you for posting this and remembering our troops who gave the ultimate sacrifice...whether it was in war with the world or war with themselves.

2 | Left by Cierra | May. 29, 2011 at 10:13pm

I have a brother who has extreme PTSD from serving in this current war. I'm scared to death everyday that he won't be here when I wake up. TWLOHA has been here for me through all of my struggles and I find it insanely noble and incredible of you to fight for this petition. We must be the difference, because no one else will be.

3 | Left by Ashley | May. 29, 2011 at 10:14pm

Too many people consider Memorial Day a time for days off, and barbeques. While that's a great part of it, memorial day is a time for thanks, and reflection, I mean after all, these people fought for our rights, our country. A loss of a soldier is tragic period, but especially of they take their own lives. Of course the government should impart their condolences and care after a soldier dies, but I think they should care beforehand too. Not everyone is educated on PTSD, and it's common among war veterans. More attention paid to veterans' mental health could mean less suicide, and less heartbroken families.

4 | Left by Rachel | May. 29, 2011 at 10:16pm

beautiful. I'll write numerous letters and make countless calls till this is changed. to any members of the armed services..past, current, or future and to their family and friends..stay strong.

5 | Left by Anon | May. 29, 2011 at 10:34pm

This truly touched my heart and I plan to do all that I can to change things. I have passed this along to my friends and have already begun spreading the message amongst social networks like facebook and twitter. My thoughts and prayers go out to all those who have lost someone they care about on this memorial day.

6 | Left by Cassandra | May. 29, 2011 at 11:53pm

My Father died many years after the Vietnam war as a result of Suicide. We will never be able to recieve any benefits because his PTSD is not noted in his medical records, although through written statements of friends families and doctors it is believed he struggled deeply with PTSD and the wounds of war, not just what he saw there but also how he was treated when he returned. We were barely able to have a military burial in his honor because of the way he died. We have been told that although we may be able to prove it, the courts will never side with us because too many people would attempt to go through the courts too and they would have to grant too much monitary and time consuming cases to deal with. Pathetic.
I live nearby the national Suicide call center and hotline and know many people who work at the local VA and for the hotline. THERE IS HELP OUT THERE!

Thank you TWLOHA for writing this article, I am posting it so more people can sign it.

7 | Left by Cyndi | May. 30, 2011 at 12:14pm

As a veteran, I thank you for writing this blog today. To many service men and women go to war and return, but part of them is gone - still over there. For a soldier who faces a traumatic event during there deployment, life is never the same and when they get home the battle doesn't stop. I lost a battle buddy to suicide and it was heartbreaking. My unit did its very best to be supportive to the family, but nothing can bring them back. Nothing can change the fact that they are now gone. The family of a service member who dies because of what they went through on a deployment still deserves what the ones of the one who got shot and killed get. Death is death and grieving the lost of a loved one is the same no matter what. "All gave some, some gave all.".

8 | Left by Stadler | May. 30, 2011 at 12:37pm

I really do hope that they change this. Every family deserves to know that they are not alone. I pray that it works and that President Obama will be generous enough to allow this to happen. It saddens me, So many lives being lost and even more so that they had to kill themselves. Suicide is so heart-breaking. It is preventable. Let's be that movement!

9 | Left by Alaine | May. 30, 2011 at 3:52pm

They fought for our freedom and this is how they get treated no fair!!Suicide is no laughing matter and these military men and women gave all.

10 | Left by Janet Bailey | May. 30, 2011 at 5:56pm

the Letter is supposed to comfort the families, but whats comforting about getting a letter saying that they took their own life? they still need one not for the person but more for the family, cause what dead man cares? none, but the family does and its for them that the letters for

11 | Left by Joseph | May. 31, 2011 at 8:12pm

I read the comments and so many are heartwarming. I, too, wonder if it is more significant and urgent to be writing the White House asking to address the issues of PTSD and our Returning Service Members to prevent suicides.

I do not see how a Letter of Condolence is a step in the right direction at all. Wouldn't many families feel insulted to receive a letter from the same government who has failed their loved one?

12 | Left by Anon | Jun. 1, 2011 at 3:46pm

Death, is death, is death. Whether a person is lost by their own hand, or by the hand of an enemy, that person is still gone. i am ashamed of the stigma surrounding suicide - how sad is it that in a newspaper obituary, people have no issue saying someone died after a battle with cancer, but not after a battle with depression? Suicide is death - and families should be consoled for their loss. A death is a tragic thing, no matter how it occurs.

13 | Left by Kelly | Jun. 1, 2011 at 5:32pm

Just wanted to follow up to a couple of things I am reading here. What I want to say is that when a servicemember reaches this heartbreaking place in their life, it is not always the government's fault. I'm not taking blame off of them, and saying there shouldn't be better supportive programs - God knows that's desperately needed.

However, sometimes it is life, not directly related to PTSD, etc that just "gets to be too much." Having lost a very close friend while on active duty (and others as well - but mentioning him because I knew him well and can speak on the situation, I know that the military/government was not the sole reason for his suicide. Had he not been serving on active duty, he (so very sadly) would have likely done this. Again, more knowledge than some on his personal history, but I just wanted to say that I believe the family would most definitely benefit from a condolence in this manner. In this case - for example - I know that the family would have been grateful. They lost a daddy, son, brother, etc. He did not come home. His death did not go unnoticed, and has not been forgotten. However, to be acknowledged as a tragedy would NOT be that hard. Sorry, stepping down off my virtual soap box now.

14 | Left by Laura | Jun. 5, 2011 at 10:34pm

Thank you so much for posting this. I have a great and very dear friend who returned home from Iraq a little over a year ago, and has struggled with these issues, and still has issues and I thank you for standing with these soldiers as best possible. Knowing you aren't alone can't make all the difference.

15 | Left by Amy | Jun. 15, 2011 at 4:32pm

I agree with the anonymous viewer!

16 | Left by Lorena Terry | Jun. 30, 2011 at 12:10pm