WORKING TO LIFT AWARENESS OF PTSD
Mother of veteran who took his own life wants to shed light on issue
Each week, this series will introduce you to an exceptional American who unites, rather than divides, our communities. To read more about the American profiled here and more average Americans doing exceptional things, visit onenation.usatoday.com.
What does it mean to you to be an American?
I am fifth-generation Californian, so I have a long line of history in America. I have a longstanding history of military people supporting and defending our nation.
I have traveled around the world, and I will tell you, there is no greater country than America.
What moment touched and motivated you to start this effort?
My youngest son, Terrance Jeffery O’Hearn, was deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. When he came home after his discharge, it became very apparent that things had changed for him. He was diagnosed with severe PTSD and ultimately took his own life. I hope to bring awareness to this very, very serious problem that we have with our returning soldiers.
Terry just fell through all these little cracks. ... At first you think this is happening to you. …. And then after a while you realize that it is happening to 20 families a day and that something has to be done about it.
What gives you hope or what concerns you?
I hope by the efforts of planting the flags that we will bring awareness to the fact that 20 veterans a day die by suicide. My concern is that statistics and the ongoing daily struggle that these veterans have makes those numbers stay high or higher.
It’s pretty powerful when you see it all in one spot. We can talk about 20 or 22 a day. And we can talk about 7,000 or 8,000 a year. But when you see 660 flags in one spot … it’s powerful. The message, it’s powerful.
What do you hope to accomplish through your efforts?
I hope to bring awareness to the fact that 22 veterans or active duty military people a day die by their own hands, by suicide, so that everybody understands that 22 a day is an unacceptable number.