HARTFORD, Wis. — At Berndt Park in Hartford, veterans put up dog tags on a singular tree to represent their sisters and brothers in arms who have taken their own lives, using the memorial to raise awareness about suicide prevention.

Hartford American Legion and VFW members held a ceremony on Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11th, and said everyone needs to do better when it comes to talking about mental health for people who fought to protect the United States.

"This means everything to me and to all of my friends who are veterans," Bill Vanark said. "Oh it's huge! I wish there was more publicity about that so they could see that, understand, and maybe that will help them."

Vanark is a U.S. Air Force veteran who said when soldiers come home, it's hard to heal.

Hartford community honors

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