Mission 22 walk raises awareness for veteran suicide prevention

More than 100 participants attended the second annual Mission 22 walk March 22 at the Malvern High School football stadium track, hosted by Daystar Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Malvern. The event focused on raising awareness for veteran suicide and supporting mental health resources for service members and their families.

Participants were encouraged to walk at their own pace, with 22 laps symbolizing the estimated number of veterans who die by suicide each day. Those who completed the laps were invited to ring a bell in recognition of the milestone.

Event organizer Dan Millat, general manager and chief operations officer at Daystar said the walk is centered on awareness rather than competition and encouraged participants to focus on the cause.

“The concept of Mission 22 is basically that an estimated 22 veterans a day take their own life from mental health disorders and things they suffer through during their sacrifice for our country,” Millat said. “It’s an extremely important cause.”

The event was held in memory of LCpl Jacob D. Crewson, a Marine Corps veteran who died March 28, 2022.

Zac Crewson, general sales manager, spoke about the personal impact the loss has had on his family.

“We’re here today to remember our brother, son, Jacob Crewson,” Zac Crewson said. “Mission 22 does a lot for trying to keep that at bay and helping families in bereavement. Unfortunately, we were touched by both.”

Zac Crewson said the family experienced another tragedy less than a year later.

“My brother took his life in March 2022. Less than a year later, our mother took her life in March of 2023,” he said.

His mother, Jennifer Costello, also died by suicide in 2023.

Despite the losses, Zac Crewson shared a message of hope, comparing the family’s experience to enduring a storm before finding brighter days ahead.

“With what our family’s gone through and what we try to raise awareness to is kind of that rainy day and that storm that you enter,” he said. “But as time goes on, you get the sunshine. So let’s enjoy it today.”

Millat thanked local businesses and supporters, including MJ’s Tasty Eats food truck and The Free Press Standard for taking photos and covering the event.

Participants then took to the track, beginning the walk behind the Crewson family to honor their loved ones and raise awareness for the ongoing impact of mental health struggles among veterans.

“The weather was great and we had a lot of the same people back walking with us as last year," Millat said. "Being in the middle of a Sunday may not have been the ideal time to grow the attendance numbers, and we may consider making it a night event for 2027.”

Donations of about $4,000 went to Mission22, a nonprofit organization that provides support to veterans and their families when they need it most—now.