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Councilman urges more support for local veterans after reporting deaths and suicide figures
Summary
Councilman Eugene R. Baten told council Dec. 13 that 27 more veterans have died since his last report (362 over two years) and cited Department of Veterans Affairs figures he said equate to about 22 veteran suicides per day, urging the council to ensure local veterans services are resourced.
Councilman Eugene R. Baten used his council report on Dec. 13 to press for greater local support for veterans, citing death and suicide figures he said he obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Baten said 27 more veterans had died since his last report, bringing a two-year total to 362, and stated several related figures: "every 49 hours a veteran pass away," "about 22 veterans commit suicide" per day (he described this as information from the Department of Veterans Affairs), and an annual figure "about 8,030 suicides per year." He urged Sumter County Council to do everything possible to ensure the local Veterans Affairs office has adequate staff and resources.
The minutes record his appeal and his request that the county support the local Veterans Affairs Office; the council did not record a formal motion or commitment on staffing or resources during the meeting.
