Saturday’s American Legion Post 927 Keep them Alive Ride and Rally was all about saving veterans from suicide.

The motorcycle ride began at The Vietnam Memorial in Palmerton and ended at the American Legion Post 927 in Gilbert with a barbecue, speeches and music.

The event featured several organizations offering help to veterans.

In 2021, USO research found that 30,177 active duty personnel and veterans who served in the military after 9/11 have died by suicide compared to the 7,057 service members killed in combat in those same 20 years.

“Military suicide rates are four times higher than deaths that occurred during military operations. These facts underscore the urgency of implementing evidence-based prevention strategies that will protect the nation’s veterans. These strategies, when implemented comprehensively, can make a profound and lasting difference,” said Samuel Rock, the founder of Battle Buddy Response Team.

There is so much to learn about veterans struggling from PTS, according to Sarah Watson whose husband is a veteran and son is in the military.

Watson works along side Rock and travels around the country talking and helping struggling veterans as well as showing up to help victims of natural disasters.

Rosann Wieand and her husband, veteran Jon Wieand of Whitehall, came to the event to represent Wreaths Across America Cedar Hill in Allentown.

Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, the couple helps place wreaths in cemeteries.

“We always do the wreaths at Cedar Hill and we encourage people to buy a wreath and honor a veteran. It is really about letting veterans know you support them and honor them,” Rosann Wieand said.

For more information about the wreath laying program, call Rosann Weiand at 610-751-1561 or Jon Wieand at 610-392-1776 or email wreathscedarhill@yahoo.com.

The rally ended with a gun volley and taps with the setting sun as the back drop in Gilbert.