David Peters to speak at Sept. 17 Rotary meeting
The Rotary Club of Edina will welcome David Peters as program speaker at the Thursday, Sept. 17, meeting. He will speak about "Operation 23 to Zero: Fighting the War at Home." Peters, a U.S. Marine for 10 years and still in the Reserves, co-founded Operation 23 to Zero to provide soldiers and veterans a support network and to raise awareness of the rate of suicides in the military—22 veterans and one active duty soldier will commit suicide every day. One of the group's projects in the spring was to raise awareness by placing 23 pairs of military boots on the Minnesota Capitol steps to represent those men and women who will commit suicide that day. There is no Rotary Club of Edina meeting Sept. 24. The Edina Rotary Foundation Fundraiser & Gala will be Saturday, Sept. 26.
David Peters of Operation 23 to Zero will be the program speaker at the Thursday, Sept. 17, Rotary Club of Edina meeting. He will speak about "Operation 23 to Zero: Fighting the War at Home."
Peters was a 10-year U.S. Marine, and is still in the Reserves. He is a husband, father and student and co-founded Operation 23 to Zero in an effort to curb military suicide and provide a support network for those who have served and are serving.
Operation: 23 to Zero is an effort to curb the massive rates of veteran and military suicide through awareness and providing a network of fellow military members to connect with for help and support. The suicide rate affecting veterans and military members today is unacceptable, according to the group's website. "We need to bring awareness to the crisis and effect a change for those touched by this epidemic."
Operation 23 to Zero provides opportunities for people to come together in a comfortable setting and meet other similarly minded individuals through group events, and provide a network to reach out to in times of need and distress.
The website shares these facts:
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• 22 veterans and one active duty military, on average COMMIT SUICIDE DAILY. That's over 8,000 men and women a year, and those are only the REPORTED NUMBERS. Many states don't report to the VA.
• Veterans and military also lead in SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENTS and MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS.
• Post-Traumatic Stress (PST) and Military Sexual Trauma (MST) are the leading reasons for vet and military related suicide.
This spring, David and his group placed 23 pairs of military boots on the Minnesota Capitol steps. These boots were a reminder to everyone of the military men and women who take their lives each day.
The Rotary Club of Edina meets Thursdays at 12:15 p.m. at the Edina Country Club. All are welcome. Cost for the meal is $19 for adults, $12 for children.
There is no Rotary Club of Edina meeting Sept. 24. The Edina Rotary Foundation Fundraiser & Gala will be Saturday, Sept. 26.