Submitted by Caitlin Kukta
(June 6, 2024) — When Jon Grasso, a paraprofessional at Haddam-Killingworth High School and an infantryman in the Vermont National Guard, heard that the Haddam Memorial Day parade was cancelled a few years back due to Covid, he took it upon himself to create a new tradition to continue to honor those who serve.
With the help of friends and family, Grasso created a twenty-two mile march from Higganum to raise awareness of veterans’ mental health. Statistically, twenty-two veterans lose their lives to suicide every day, and this number continues to grow.
This year’s walk, the Fifth Annual, was held at the HKHS track on May 26, 2024, with a large crowd showing their support and walking laps around the track. The reason for the switch from Higganum Center was that Grasso felt the track offered a more “family-friendly” environment that allowed more community members to participate.
Individuals could walk eighty-eight laps to cover twenty-two miles, but it was not required for anyone to walk the full number, as any presence at the walk was appreciated. New shirts commemorated the walk, and they were given out in response to donations made. More than $8,000 was raised by the event.
Donations in the past few years have gone to fund a scholarship in honor or Joseph Parmelee, an HKHS graduate who served in the U.S. Marine Corps. “It was much more of a community event,” said Grasso. “We were able to talk to people and meet the families. It was great.”
Caitlin Kukta, a senior at Haddam-Killingworth High School, recently appeared in a segment of Fox61 Student News. Her presentation can be found on the Fox61 website. A graduating senior, she will be attending Southern Connecticut State University this fall, majoring in journalism.
Jon Grasso, a graduate of Haddam-Killingworth High School and Norwich University in Vermont is now studying for his Master’s at Southern Connecticut State University with a concentration in special education. Interviewed in Kukta’s video, Grasso stated that, “Suicide has always been a big topic and I feel like sometimes it kind of goes under the rug.”
Photos by Michelle Grasso
[…] Caitlin wants to use her skills “to spread awareness about invisible disabilities and stigma around them. “…as an individual who has struggled with chronic illness and invisible disabilities, I believe it is important for more awareness to be brought to the fact they exist and help stop the discrimination many people face simply because they do not look “disabled.” See Caitlin’s recent article to a local on-line newspaper entitled, “A Walk to Highlight Veteran’s Suicide Awareness. “ […]