John Newcomb is a U.S. Army veteran who puts physical effort into his most cherished cause.
He does this by carrying around in his arms a skeleton, dressed in military camouflage garb, which represents the 22 American service personnel who take their lives every day. “Twenty-two is too many, one is still too many,” posts Newcomb on his Facebook page.
“You are never too heavy” was written on a sign he carried during a recent 22-day march in the U.S. The funds raised by his walk have been donated to a scholarship fund for children affected by the countless veteran suicides.
Newcomb hopes to secure funds to help fellow veterans who might take their own lives. He emphasized that it is the responsibility of other Americans to help him in his campaign, encouraging his supporters to reach out to veterans in their own communities for the purpose of saving lives. Help, he says, may simply come in the form of a friendly conversation.
Upstate New York resident Stacy Kieper was out for an evening walk when she came face-to-face with Newcomb and his campaign. Shocked by the sight, Kieper later discussed him on her page.
“He has fought for our country and is still fighting for his brothers and sisters,” she wrote. “By far one of the most amazing and beautiful things I’ve ever seen.”
