No Veteran Stands or Rests Alone

Rebecca Clark
4 days ago
2 min read

Fall is upon us. The days are getting shorter, the early darkness is settling in, and that familiar football-weather chill has arrived. As we approach Veterans Day and the upcoming REVS22 event in Lorain, I find myself reflecting deeply on mental health and suicide awareness. Our group, Ohio Western Reserve Ladies (OWRL), carries the mission, “No Veteran Buried Alone.” Those words echo the values of my military service and the creed that still resonates within me — “No man left behind.” Every day, an average of 17 U.S. veterans die by suicide. That number is staggering and unacceptable. It reminds us that our duty to one another doesn’t end with our time in uniform. After 20 years in the Ohio Army National Guard, the Army values are permanently engraved in my heart. The acronym LDRSHIP — Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage — guides how I live and serve today. Just as importantly, it reminds me of the inherent vow we each make: to stand watch silently over those who are hurting, in need, or alone in their mental health struggle.

I am LOYAL in my efforts to stand beside you through your struggle. You are not alone.
I take this DUTY seriously — to serve those in need and to educate and empower others to do the same.
I RESPECT your challenges and your pain, even if I cannot fully understand them.
I will SELFLESSLY SERVE you in your time of need, whether as an ear to listen, a hand to hold, or arms to carry you.
It is my HONOR to support you.
I will act with INTEGRITY, doing what is right for you, even when it is hard.
And I will have the PERSONAL COURAGE to have the hard conversations, to help you make hard choices, and to always be honest with you.

OWRL has become a rock in my own mental health journey, keeping me connected to my military community and grounded in purpose. Surrounded by those who share my values and passions, I find steady comfort in this group. Whether you are a veteran, a military family member, or anyone else, please know that my fellow OWRL members and I are a safe space for you. You matter. You are loved. If you are struggling, please reach out. Dial 988 and press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line, or text 838255. Help is always available — day or night.

Together, we’ll continue to ensure that no veteran stands or rests alone.

More About Rebecca Clark, Co-Founder and President of OWRL

Rebecca Clark is the current Senior Nurse Manager for Akron Children’s Hospital PICU & Heart Unit, adjunct faculty at Northern Kentucky University in the MSN nursing program, a 20-year OHARNG Retired Major, and current President of Ohio Western Reserve Ladies.