A local group wants to add another name to the Duval County Veterans Memorial Wall while raising awareness about veteran suicide.
Action News Jax spoke to members of Jacksonville Irreverent Veterans, a support group for the servicemen and women suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
They say one local Marine should be on the wall because he lost the battle “after the battle.”
Sgt. Randall Hansen graduated from Fletcher High School and joined the United States Marine Corps.
He attended the University of North Florida between two combat tours in Iraq.
Sgt. Hansen suffered from PTSD and took his own life after returning home.
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“We never want to leave a Marine behind, and Sgt. Hansen right now has been left behind,” said Jarrod Smith of Irreverent Warriors.
The City of Jacksonville said certain criteria must be met for a veteran to be added to the memorial.
In this case, Sgt. Hansen would not be allowed on the wall because he did not die while serving the country, a city spokesperson told Action News Jax.
The Irreverent Warriors say that should not matter. They say Sgt. Hansen took his own life because of the “invisible wounds” from fighting in combat.
“Until the city of Jacksonville and our government can take care of and help therapeutically, get these guys where they need to be in society, then they died in combat,” said Smith.
The group says adding Sgt. Hansen’s name to the wall would raise awareness of veteran suicide.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 20 U.S. veterans committed suicide a month on average during 2014.
Cox Media Group
