A page 1A story in Wednesday’s Mining Journal should have shocked all who read it: in a nutshell, the piece underscored the fact that 17 veterans each day die by suicide in this country. That’s more than 6,000 per year, for those readers wondering about the math.

Considering that all demographic groups these days seem to be beset by suicide, the fact that veterans find themselves included in these grim statistics comes as no real surprise. But the sheer number, might we say, is jarring.

Overall, Wednesday’s story told of an origami display at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain. The display consists of small, folded cranes which, according to hospital officials, represent hope, healing and recovery. Each of the cranes were individually folded by VA employees, veterans

See Full Page