Holbrook fest to help returning troops battle suicide

The Freedom Festival will be held from 1-9 p.m. Saturday, July 9 at the William

B. Dalton American Legion Post, 777 Plymouth St.

Four bands under an expansive tent, a catered buffet served from 2-6 p.m., a bouncy house and other activities for children, and community camaraderie combat a heartbreaking statistic with joy and hope.

Every day, 22 war-torn veterans kill themselves.

The Freedom Festival is hosted by the American Infidels, a motorcycle club made up of combat veterans from the War on Terror. The proceeds of $20 per adult and $10 for children 12 will benefit 22KILL, a global 501(c))

(3)non-profit organization working to raise awareness of the suicide epidemic among veterans and build a community of support for veterans with mental health issues such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The American Infidels is establishing a Boston area 22KILL chapter. Best, the American Infidels' sergeant at arms, is the Boston chapter director of operations.

Festival proceeds also will go toward sending veterans to Camp Valhalla, a veterans' retreat in Texas. A Holbrook veteran currently is there.

22KILL raises awareness not just about veteran suicide, but also about the mental health issues that can lead to suicide. These issues stem primarily from conditions such as post traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury, and the struggle of transitioning out of the military, according to the 22KILL web site.

The solution is veteran empowerment, according to 22ILL. One of the biggest challenges veterans face is finding a sense of purpose after service. 22KILL directly supports veteran empowerment programs that help veterans maximize their talents and understand their value outside of the military.

22KILL believes that to prevent or fix a problem, the problem and its causes must first be understood. Through education comes the ability to identify the triggers that can lead to thoughts of suicide, and confront those issues as they come, rather than letting them accumulate into something much worse. 22KILL will have an office at the Dalton Post where veterans can meet with psychologists.

22KILL is also working to link veterans to a Dallas hospital for studies on brain injury and is striving to bring this resource to Boston hospitals. 22KILL encourages supporters to become veterans' advocates, or Battle Buddies, and wear the 22KILL honor ring, a black band worn on the right index finger, symbolizing the "trigger finger." For information on becoming a battle buddy, visit www.22kill.com.