To the editor:
In the state of Ohio, organizations have the opportunity to create license plates that reflect their cause, offering a unique medium for spreading awareness and saving support. There is an on-line petition aiming to propose the establishment of an organizational license plate for SAVE22.
SAVE22 is a 501c(3) organization dedicated to preventing suicide among veterans, active-duty personnel and first responders. They support those who have served our nation and communities by listening to their stories and providing unwavering support, ensuring they are never alone or forgotten.
This would benefit all veterans and first responders suicide prevention with continued awareness and additional funding yearly from the license plates sold and renewed.
When the required number of signatures are met, it will move to the next step. Eventually it will take time working its way through different channels. However, time is of the essence for saving lives of veterans and first responders.
With the last reporting information I could locate through the state of Ohio, in 2021, 242 Ohio veterans died by suicide, and 108 were between the ages of 55-74. As of 2022, Ohio's veteran population stood at 602,318. Life is precious and one life lost to suicide is one too many.
As a supporter of veterans and first responders, if you agree, let your voice be heard. I urge all to reach out to our elected state representatives by e-mail or U.S. mail and educate them concerning the urgency of the lives of veterans and first responders. Request their support when the House bill is presented to them in the Statehouse to be passed without delay into law.
If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. 988 connects you with a trained crisis counselor who can help.
Ed Hale
Carrollton