Suicide Awareness event to be held annually
Photo contributed
The Hebron American Legion Post 180 Riders and Hebron Volunteer Fire Department hosted the first Annual Thayer County Suicide Awarness Poker Run in memory of Chris Ernst, Dave Meyers and Phillip Price Sept. 19. Adding to the event was Miss Nebraska Lexi Nolda. Pictured are (From left to right) Pat Kujath, Diane Kujath, Virginia Caudy, Miss Nebraska and Jack Priefert. (Back) Norm Caudy, Earl Campbell, Brad Jarchow and Dustin Dana.
In defining suicide in 2026, the National Center for Health Statistics cites 10 numbers including the most recent reporting period in 2024 of nearly 50,000 people committing suicide, the 10th leading cause of death, with millions more having suicidal thoughts. In 2023, 20.4 percent of high school students seriously considered taking their own lives. The most recent data for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs was in 2023 as 6,398 veterans died by suicide.
“Suicide prevention is everyone’s responsibility and everyone has a role to play, including health care providers, friends, family, community organizations, employers and faith leaders,” the VA report stated.
September is Suicide Awareness Month and in Thayer County, the Hebron American Legion Post 180 Riders and Hebron Volunteer Fire Department collaborated to host a Poker Run Sept. 19 to raise funds for Buddy Check in Beatrice, a social gathering of veterans and first responders dedicated to reducing and eliminating veteran/first responder suicide.
Buddy Check 22 is an organization that delves further into helping veterans face unique challenges such as transitioning to civilian life after serving and post traumatic stress disorder.
A total of $3,000 was raised and half will be donated to Buddy Check and the other half will go to See The Light in Beatrice that advocates for mental health, suicide awareness and supporting affected families.
Norm Caudy said the ride began in DeWeese, then traveled to Veterans of Foreign Wars halls in Sutton and Fairmont before visiting Milligan and returning to HVFD.
“We need more attention on this,” Norm Caudy, who helped organize the event, said about suicide awareness. “People might know and don’t say anything to get these guys away from those thoughts.” The Poker Run had three names attached to it: Chris Ernst, Dave Meyers and Phillip Price, local men who took their own lives. Caudy knew Chris for most of his life.
“It was just a shock. Chris was always upbeat. I didn’t know he had any problems,” Caudy said.
He was hoping more than the 60 to 70 riders who usually join the Riders’ causes for Blue Valley Community Action, Hope Crisis Center and Legacy Fund, would join the Poker Run.
Virginia Caudy said 80 attended.
“We had people from Kansas City, Mo., Lincoln and Kansas. It was a really good crowd for the first time,” she said. “Now, it will be annual.”
Fire chief in Hebron, BJ Linton said a few of HVFD’s members have committed suicide. When they were approached by the Legion Riders, the department wanted to help.
He said suicide affects everyone a little differently, and there is a state-run critical incident stress debriefing team available. Before he died, Chris had been a member of the department, and Dave and Phillip were past members as well.
“It does wear on the guys,” Linton said.