Kearns Community Joins Forces in “22 in 22 Challenge” to Honor Veterans and Elevate Military Suicide Awareness

In Kearns, Veterans Day was marked not just with the usual ceremonies but with a collective physical endeavor meant to draw attention to a harrowing statistic that plagues the veteran’s community. The Utah Hockey Club, in association with various veterans and law enforcement officers, gathered at the Utah Olympic Oval to execute 22 push-ups as part of an initiative to raise awareness for the grim reality of military suicide rates, as detailed by

Fox13

, portraying a community determined to support those who served.

However, this number might need to be updated soon enough to accurately reflect a more distressing situation. Contrary to the widely cited figure of 22 veteran suicides per day, a recent study published in 2024 suggests the actual daily average is now disturbingly higher at approximately 40 to 45, as reported by

KSLTV

, who took an in-depth look at the crisis and the efforts undertaken by those like Naomi Keller of Salt Lake City law enforcement, who has been a regular participant in the “22 for 22” challenge.

Keller, as obtained by

KSLTV

, shared, “The number may be dated, but 22 veterans every day commit suicide and I do 22 (pushups) for 22 (days) and finish on Veterans Day.” She continued to underline the importance of community support, honoring those who have served and highlighting the critical need for dialogue around mental health issues.

It’s worth noting that, beyond pushups, the Utah Hockey Club is looking to warm hearts in another way. They introduced a new team dog named Archie during the Veterans Day event. The young black lab stole the show and is set to train with the team for the next 12 to 14 months, ultimately to assist a veteran, as reported by

KSLTV

. Keller emphasized the importance of inclusivity and normalizing conversations about mental health challenges, asserting, “It’s okay not to be okay … If somebody’s not okay just ask them. Asking them if they’re considering committing suicide is not gonna make them commit suicide. It gives them the okay that it’s alright to talk.”

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