New Lenox: American Legion Joins Warriors Walk
New Lenox’s local American Legion, the Tom E Hartung American Legion Post 1977, has joined the Warriors Walk as a managing organizer to help support the success of this year’s event.
Warriors Walk is an independent non-profit organization centered around a veteran suicide awareness “ruck march,” held on the second Saturday of September — this year on September 13. A ruck march involves carrying a backpack or weighted pack to symbolize military tradition.
The event’s goal is twofold: to help raise awareness of veteran suicide and collect funds to help mental health resources for veterans in hopes of preventing veteran suicide. The proceeds of the event will go toward the Headstrong Project.
Many are familiar with the highly publicized statistic that 22 veterans across America commit suicide every day. While the awareness and push to improve mental health services and accessibility has resulted in a decline in the veteran suicide rate to 17.6 deaths per day, per the 2024 report produced by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, it is still equally as devastating, especially for surviving loved ones.
This statistic reflects how mental health support services and accessibility are still desperately needed—and how the stigma of needing mental health services still affects the veteran population, young and old.
“It’s a great event,” said Anthony Zipsie, Post Commander at the American Legion Post 1977.
“Even if you don’t want to do the ruck run, it’s great seeing people come out and show their support for veterans’ mental health. I think that’s really important. The Legion and VFW are a great resource if people need anything. They just need to reach out.”
The New Lenox American Legion joins the New Lenox VFW Post, which has long supported the Warriors Walk and donated to its cause. The American Legion has also helped support the Warriors Walk in years past, but this is the first year it will take a more active role in the event as a managing organizer.
The American Legion will help support the Warriors Walk on event day, in addition to helping with fundraising.
“We’re trying to expand so more VFWs and Legions are getting involved. Some of these guys don’t believe in therapy, but I’d like to say that I’m living proof that it works,” Warriors Walk founder Ryan Brazel said.
History of the Warriors Walk
Brazel started the Warriors Walk in 2019 after he noticed his anxiety and mental health were suffering following a move. He recalled how the ruck marches he had walked in the past had helped his mental health, so he set out to walk 20 miles and notified all he could, asking them to join him.
No one showed up, but he went through with it anyway.
“I got stopped by Will County Sheriff’s and New Lenox police because I looked like a crazy person. But I did it,” Brazel said that despite going alone, he raised close to $1,800 for The Headstrong Project, which then caught the New Lenox VFW Post’s attention.
The VFW sponsored his walk the following year, in 2020. Brazel didn’t have to walk alone in 2020 — more people joined, and together, they raised $15,000 that year.
The Headstrong Project
This event brings together veterans from various organizations and raises funds for supporting organizations like The Headstrong Project, a nonprofit organization that provides veterans with mental health services.
“I like the Headstrong organization — their mission statement, and as far as our Post and the VFW, I know that we both were able to rally behind it,” Zipsie said, noting the American Legion had completed a million-dollar donation to The Wounded Warriors in Action (WWIA) foundation.
The American Legion had been looking for a new cause to support, and the Warriors Walk and Headstrong Project were a perfect fit.
Brazel recalled his personal experience with The Headstrong Project, which began after seeing a counselor through his current employer, a local police department. That counselor introduced him to The Headstrong Project, which allowed him to continue seeing the therapist long-term and with his VA benefits.
“It runs about $5,000 per service member per year to be able to see someone. So, I said we gotta do something. So that’s why I started doing the walk for The Headstrong Project and to raise awareness for veteran suicide,” Brazel explained.
While veterans can get mental health services through the VA, long claim processing times often delay treatment. For a veteran suffering and needing mental healthcare, this delay can ultimately mean life or death.
“We want people to go to the VA and still get things going. But being able to have someone like The Headstrong Project relieves that pressure and gets veterans in front of someone so much faster. It’s recognized by the VA,” Brazel said.
Bringing Organizations Together
The Warriors Walk brings together veterans, old and young, along with civilians, business organizations, and local communities who want to put a spotlight on mental health and suicide prevention.
“It’s an all-encompassing group. We’re trying to build our veterans community for the next generation,” Brazel said, while offering stories of younger veterans who didn’t feel worthy of joining the VFW or American Legion Posts. He explained the goal is to bridge the gap between the older generation and the newer, younger one.
“I do think that as far as reaching out to the younger generation, activities are always a better thing,” Zipsie said.
“As soon as I got out, I started going to the Legion and VFW, and I’ve been the youngest member of my post for 12 years. It’s really hard to get Iraq and Afghanistan vets out, because they have families and stuff like that.
“Adding an activity into it gets a lot more people involved. They start looking into it, seeing it around town, and maybe they reach out, and we can find some of the younger vets,” Zipsie explained.
Brazel is thrilled that the American Legion and VFW play such active roles and hopes more will join them.
Brazel also explained that having the VFW and American Legion as managing organizers helps to ensure the organization’s mission never wavers — and it also requires a member of each organization to serve on the Warriors Walk board, helping to give credence to the organization.
He noted several other Posts — including the McHenry VFW Post 4600, Mokena VFW Post 725, and Grayslake VFW Post 2245, among other veterans’ organizations, auxiliaries, and local businesses — have joined this year as sponsors.
“Our goal is to unite everyone under the one banner of saving veterans and giving them the quality mental health they deserve. Not all veterans need someone to talk to; some of them need so much more. But this is a start,” Brazel explained.
Those wishing to participate in the September 13 Warrior Walk held at the New Lenox Commons can choose various distances to walk, ranging from a single mile to 20 miles.
Registration is open online: https://www.warriorswalk-il.org/the-walk/. The Warriors Walk organization, which has grown immensely since its inception in 2020, is also seeking volunteers, and both civilians and veterans are welcome to help the cause.
Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter.