Members of the West Point community and local U.S. Military Academy graduates gathered before sunrise on September 8 for From Darkness to the Light—a walk from darkness into the morning light and a visible expression of our shared promise that no one walks alone. The West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG)’s Veterans Services coordinated the event, which reached beyond West Point to other states and countries.
About 25 people assembled at Herbert Alumni Center in the pre-dawn darkness, illuminated by green spotlights lit in honor of veterans. Under a starlit sky and a crescent moon, they walked a mile to the former West Point Train Station. The sky began to lighten as the group made its way down the hill along the Hudson River. At the train station, brochures and other materials were available with information about suicide prevention and awareness.
With the river as a backdrop, Chaplain David Bowlus ’93 remarked that everyone who participated in the morning walk has been touched in some way by suicide. Reflecting on the walk’s theme, Bowlus said it is human nature for us to go through dark times, but “when the light arrives, darkness no longer exists.”
He encouraged personal reflection: “The person you’ll talk to the most is yourself,” Bowlus said. “If you notice those thoughts are getting dark, the good news is there’s light available.”
Oftentimes, though, when people are in that dark space, they do not want to reach out for help, Bowlus noted. It is common to exhibit signs of PTSD or depression after service, and it is also common to not want to talk about it. “So be aware of those who may be walking in ‘dark places’; reaching out for help is a strength, not a weakness.”
WPAOG CEO Mark Bieger ’91 thanked attendees for participating, including members of the Long Gray Line spanning the classes of 1961 through the 1990s. Connection, he said, is a powerful tool to combat the crisis of suicide.
Brian Crandall, the suicide prevention program coordinator for West Point, was among those who walked. He emphasized the importance of being aware of warning signs, which include talking about death or harming oneself; giving away belongings; regularly isolating; and otherwise experiencing behavioral changes.
Support resources are available, including the Veterans Crisis Line at 988 (Press 1) and the Crisis Text Line at 838255. The Veterans Affairs (VA) Office offers mental health services for veterans at VA facilities and vet centers.
WPAOG’s Veterans Services Specialist Sue Irons ’89 has built a team of Volunteer Veterans Services Specialists (VVSLs) who serve West Point classes and societies and support their local graduate networks. “VVSLs understand the challenges graduates and their families face and know about resources and how to connect them to help when needed. WPAOG Veterans Services and Class and Society VVSLs truly demonstrate what it means to ‘Grip Hands’ and show that no one from the West Point community has to walk alone.”
WPAOG also provides support during critical junctures in graduates’ lives. At times of significant crossroads—like career transition or service-connected illness—graduates can benefit from the strength and support of the Long Gray Line. As Debbie Edelen ’92, Senior Director of Alumni Engagement, noted on behalf of WPAOG, “The Long Gray Line is not immune to suicide, but it’s important to remember that help, connection, and support are always available.”
The pre-dawn walk—scheduled on September 8 to coincide with the 988 crisis line—was not limited to West Point: Similar walks were held in South Dakota, northern California, and at Central Park in New York City. The initiative was global as well: Irons’ daughter, 1LT Mary Kate I. Beachler ’20, a company commander in Germany, hosted a walk in Landstuhl.
