Second veteran walks through the heartland

Veteran Jeremy Miller with members of the Ellsworth Fire Department. *Photos courtesy Jeremy Miller*

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post

Jeremy Miller takes his current mission personally. Miller, a veteran, is walking across the United States to raise awareness of veteran suicides.

Miller spoke with Salina Post during a stop in Kanopolis Sunday afternoon.

Miller, who was a Specialist E4 with the Army Reserve out of Idaho, said he began his journey on May 22 in Crescent City, Calif. His plan is to walk to Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., by the end of November.

Miller atop a ladder truck Saturday in Ellsworth.

Miller explained that his Army Reserve group did not lose anyone while deployed in Iraq in 2011, however, upon their return to the United States, three of the soldiers killed themselves, Miller said. Miller, himself, attempted suicide, and continues to suffer from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety, he said.

Deciding that he needed to turn his life around and get his mind in a better place, Miller decided to walk across the U.S. to raise awareness of the high rate of veteran suicides, he said.

“You have to find your happiness and I decided that this walk is the best for me,” Miller explained. “You also have to be vulnerable and talk about what you are going through. It’s good to talk and get it off your chest.”

Walking veterans’ paths cross in Ellsworth

Miller said that while he was in Ellsworth over the weekend, he got to meet Michael Gmur, a Marine veteran who is walking across the U.S. to raise awareness of and funds for homeless veterans.

With route change, Gmur plans to walk into Salina on Thursday

Gmur, who is walking from Portland, Maine, to San Diego, Calif., switched his route last week and spent the night Thursday in Salina. He continued west on Kansas Highway 140 Friday morning and met up with Miller in Ellsworth.

Miller and Gmur hung out with the Ellsworth Fire Department of Saturday.

The two spent a good part of Saturday hanging out with the Ellsworth Fire Department.

Miller plans to make it to Salina on Tuesday, and from here will continue walking east on Old Highway 40. He said he tries to walk 20-25 miles per day, but would like to get to the point where he is walking 30 miles per day.

Miller said he was appreciative of how kind and supportive Kansans have been to him. He said that the Ellsworth Fire Department put out a collection jar for him at the barbecue fundraiser they were having. Others have provided meals, places to stay, a haircut, and even followed along behind him to make sure he didn’t get hit by a vehicle.

Once he completes his journey, Miller said he would like to start a non-profit organization that continues to draw attention to the serious issue of veteran suicides.

You can follow Miller’s journey through his Facebook page: Walk Across America. The page also contains a link to his GoFundMe page.