Golf outing seeks to prevent veteran suicide
Golfers participating in a suicide prevention benefit tournament Saturday hope to break last year's donation record.
The second annual A.J. Smith Memorial Golf Outing is likely to raise about $12,000 for the Pittsburgh chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, according to the outing's organizers. Last year's tournament managed $10,000.
Smith served with the U.S. Army in Iraq from 2006 through 2010. He was in a Stryker division, a group dedicated to their namesake armored vehicles.
Unfortunately, Smith returned to the states suffering with post traumatic stress disorder. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that as many as 20 percent of Iraq veterans suffer from PTSD.
Deb Smith, A.J.'s mother, said her son's life initially looked bright after returning home, despite his struggles. He turned to childhood dreams for resolution.
“He dreamed of being a firefighter since he was a small child,” Smith said.
So he became one. Originally from Evans City, A.J. took a job in fire safety in Columbia, S.C. He fell in love with a woman and his job.
“Then he got hurt on the job,” Deb said. “They told him he would never be able to firefight again.”
A.J. went to his local VA office for help in January of 2016. He killed himself Feb. 21, 2016 at age 28.
Back home in Evans City, Deb, family and friends eventually responded by forming a group called Stop 22. The name refers to an oft-repeated, though now outdated, VA statistic suggesting 22 Iraq veterans commit suicide every day.“We want people to understand how bad a problem it is,” Deb said.Last year's tournament hosted 152 golfers, according to its director Don Checkan. As of Monday, 148 people are registered for this weekend's event, with 16 open spots remaining.“We are going to break last year's record,” Checkan said. “I truly believe we will end with net $12,000. It's unbelievable.”Checkan coached a young A.J. in baseball and football. Both he and Deb plan to continue the event annually as long as they're able.The A.J. Smith Memorial Golf Outing starts at 9 a.m. Saturday at Strawberry Ridge Golf Course in Harmony. The tournament is an 18-hole scramble designed for quick-moving play. First- through fourth-place finishers take home cash prices ranging from $400 to $100. Those interested can get further details from Don Checkan at 412-577-9269.
