Military And Veterans
Coty Denogean Memorial Suicide Awareness Walk
Community Gathers for 9th Annual Suicide Awareness Walk in Morenci
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✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍Morenci, Arizona
The 9th Annual Coty Denogean Memorial Suicide Awareness Walk was held in Morenci, Arizona, to raise awareness about the critical issue of veteran suicide. The event, which has grown in size each year, aims to provide a platform for dialogue, remembrance, and healing for veterans, their families, and the broader community. This year, over 300 people participated, walking through the streets of Morenci to honor the lives lost to suicide and to bring attention to the challenges veterans face in terms of mental health and support services. The walk was initiated in memory of Coty Denogean, a local veteran who tragically took his life after returning home from service. Cotys family and friends, along with community leaders, have worked tirelessly to organize the event each year. The event serves as a reminder of the importance of community support, mental health awareness, and the critical need for resources for veterans. We want people to know that there is support for them, said Sarah Denogean, Cotys mother and the event organizer. Veterans often feel isolated when they return home, and many struggle silently with mental health issues like PTSD. This walk is about showing them that they are not alone. This year, the walk featured several new initiatives aimed at engaging local youth in the conversation about mental health. Local high school students participated in the event, wearing T-shirts with messages of support and encouragement. The event also featured educational booths offering information on mental health resources available to veterans and their families. Cathy Hernandez, a veteran and local mental health advocate, spoke at the event about the challenges faced by veterans in accessing care. Its not just about awareness; its about action, Hernandez said. We need to ensure that veterans have access to the mental health resources they need and that were removing the stigma around asking for help. In addition to the walk, participants were invited to join a candlelight vigil in the evening, where the names of veterans lost to suicide were read aloud in honor of their memory. The event also included testimonials from veterans who have experienced the effects of PTSD and depression and who shared their stories of struggle and recovery. The event concluded with a call to action for the community to continue working together to support veterans, both emotionally and practically. Volunteers and organizers encouraged attendees to continue the conversation long after the walk was over and to make a personal commitment to checking in on the veterans in their lives.