JACKSONVILLE, N.C. -- Hundreds of veterans celebrated their day at the Onslow County Chapter of Disabled American Veterans with a guest speaker and wreath laying ceremony.

• The guest speaker used the opportunity to speak about a big issue plaguing the military community.
• 22 veterans take their own life each day and many feel alone and forgotten.

The guest speaker, Sergeant Major F. Michael Cline, thanked the veterans and used the opportunity to speak about a big issue plaguing the military community: suicide. Cline says 22 veterans take their own life each day and many feel alone and forgotten.

“Veterans, PTSD, suicide and the number 22. Our society needs to stop recognizing celebrities who commit suicide and giving them world wide attention through media sources and help us veterans combat this disease,” said Cline.

Cline says we need to not only go out of our way to reach out to vets but put them up on billboards instead of celebrities at schools and businesses.

Cline's son, Jared Cline, wrote and performed a song called “Disappear” dedicated to the past and present service members battling those demons. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.