“What is a veteran? A veteran - whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to the United States of America for an amount up to and including his or her life.”

Gold Star Family members Michael and Sarah Wargo shared that quote that was found on the internet, as they addressed the veterans and family members at American Legion Post 927 in Gilbert during the Veterans Day Ceremony on Saturday.

Legion Post Commander Danny Insalata, U.S. Army, led the program and reminded those in attendance about the importance of the sacrifices made by veterans.

“Those men and women were ordinary people until they heard the call of duty and answered it,” Insalata said. “They left their families, their homes, and their lives; not for recognition or fame, or even honor. They fought to protect our country, to maintain our way of life.”

Insalata also pointed out another aspect of our veterans that needs more attention.

“As we honor our veterans and remember their great deeds, let us also remember those who are suffering today and losing the war at home,” he said. “Today we are in a crisis. We have Vietnam veterans suffering from Agent Orange, so many years after the war. We have a PTSD crisis that is out of control. It used to be 22 (veterans per day who commit suicide). Now the number is 25, 26, or 27.”

Guest Speaker Sgt. Major Mark Baylis, founder of the VALOR Clinic in the former Jonas Hotel, spoke of the struggles of veterans trying to return to civilian life. He said that family relationships are the number one reason that veterans contemplate suicide.

“We learn attention to detail, we learn follow through, we learn to work for the mission,” Baylis saidd. “We have been unstoppable in war for two hundred years. But, what’s good for us in war, when we come home, sometimes gets in our way. We are notorious for our attention to detail, working through the task and the mission first, ahead of personal relationships with the people around us to the point where it’s the number one reason we hurt ourselves.”

Baylis suggested two very important things for veterans and their families to practice.

“Forgiveness and gratitude. Be grateful they are there, and forgive what you perceive as their mistakes,” he said. “People deserve to be safe and warm, and our veterans should not come home and have to live under a bridge, or feel so strained or stressed that they don’t fit in that they want to hurt themselves.”

Mike and Sarah Wargo shared the story of their son, Michael C. Wargo, who joined the U.S. Army following Sept. 11, 2001. He was eventually deployed to Afghanistan. During that deployment, Michael saw 10 of his buddies die. “He came home with terrible survivor guilt,” Mike said. “He struggled for eight years with the demons of war. His life went downhill. He went from job to job, and eventually Julie (his wife) divorced him.”

On May 20, 2013, Michael lost the war at home to PTSD and took his own life.

“The average is 22 lives per day lost to suicide,” Sarah said. “Since 9/11, it’s been 22 years. That amounts to about 176,000 lives lost.”

The ceremony included the presentation of a wreath, a rifle salute, and the playing of taps. Afterward a light lunch was served.