JACKSON – As Memorial Day was very different this year due to COVID-19, the public is being urged to remember veterans and those lost and impacted by war during this solemn time.
There are those veterans, however, that need to be remembered every day. The Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski, II Memorial Fund in New Jersey is bringing awareness to a rise in suicides by veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Fund has launched a mental health awareness campaign for them.
The Memorial Fund was founded in memory of Lt. Dennis Zilinski, of Middletown who was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2005. His mother, Marion Zilinski of Jackson, is the co-founder and board member of the Memorial Fund.
“It’s devastating that another veteran with PTSD, an amputee who we were working with here in New Jersey, has taken his own life during the quarantine.”
Zilinski said, Rory Hamill “was a father of three, a decorated combat hero in the Marines, and a friend. We must do better for our veterans with PTSD, especially now as stay home orders during the pandemic disrupt daily routines desperately needed for them to stay healthy.”
She added, Hamill was a well-known advocate for veterans with PTSD and a motivational speaker for the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. He openly spoke about his attempted suicide several years ago in an effort to help others cope.
“Support systems are critical for veterans who struggle with PTSD. Telling them they can’t leave their homes, see their friends, go to work, exercise at the gym, and do all the things that help keep them sane is pure torture,” she added.
Zilinski noted that, “they are left with nothing but their own thoughts, which unfortunately, can lead to a downward spiral of depression, anxiety, and fear. Having a service dog can help bring security and comfort to their lives.”
Combat Army Veteran William Rommel, a father of four from Brick who also suffers from PTSD, said his service dog, Rio, a great Dane/labrador mix was a lifesaver. Rommel tried to end his life twice after he returned from Iraq.
“My service dog saved my life. Rio has given me purpose. His minimum needs are met by me. He pulls me out of the dark and has taught me how to love,” Rommel said.
“Now, the pandemic has us all (veterans with PTSD) on edge. It’s definitely a trigger. I had been going to group therapy every week which was helping my PTSD. We’ve been trying to do it on Zoom, but it’s just not cutting it. I’m grateful to have Rio to calm me.”
Rommell added, “When I’m getting anxious and my heart rate goes up, he places his paw on my chest reminding me to calm down. He also helps keep people away from me and my family with the social distancing. It stresses me right now when people come too close.”
Fellow combat Veteran David Crenshaw of Kearny says the pandemic restrictions created the “perfect storm” for his PTSD to intensify.
Crenshaw said, “Three weeks ago, my brother passed away suddenly. COVID-19 didn’t allow my family and me to grieve, as we were not permitted to have a service. It brought me right back to losing my mother four years ago. Death is a trigger for me after witnessing so much carnage during combat.”
“What helped me emerge from the darkness was my service dog, Doc, a black Labrador/German Short Hair Pointer mix. Doc tried desperately to get me back to normal. Eventually he succeeded. I don’t know how I would have fared through this quarantine without him,” Crenshaw said.
Zilinski said she wanted veterans suffering from PTSD to know “the Zilinski Memorial Fund is here to help them receive that lifeline and connect them to other resources. Anyone struggling with PTSD or any mental health issues is urged to call 1-800-273-TALK (8255).”
To date, the Memorial Fund has sponsored more than 100 service dogs at a sponsorship of $15,000 per service dog. She added, veterans with PTSD interested in a service dog are encouraged to e-mail the Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski, II Memorial Fund at runwithdennis@yahoo.com.
The Memorial Fund provides scholarships to students at Lt. Zilinski’s alma mater, Christian Brothers Academy and Trinity Hall High School, both in New Jersey. By providing these scholarships, the Memorial Fund invests in the future of high school students who embody the leadership qualities and community spirit of Lt. Zilinski.
Zilinski said, “to help us raise awareness about all the good we do, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Donations may be sent to: Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski, II Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 124, Adelphia, NJ 07710 or made online at runwithdennis.org.
