Don’t worry about the dozens of military veterans who will spend Saturday wearing only combat boots and super-short silk shorts while carrying 50 pounds on their backs and hiking around Key West. They haven’t been collectively classified as Section 8, or mentally unfit for service.
On the contrary, these veterans and active-duty service members know exactly what they’re doing and why they’re marching in what’s known as a Silkies Hike, named for the short silk shorts formerly used during military training, and coordinated by a nonprofit group known as the Irreverent Warriors.
They’re aiming to march 22 kilometers (13.7 miles, or as close as they can get) while carrying 22 kilograms (50 pounds) to shed light on the 22 veterans who take their own lives every day.
The Irreverent Warriors host events such as Silkies Hikes in more than 30 cities across the country and are hoping to make Key West an annual location.
“Irreverent Warriors are the men and women who have been prepared to kill and die for our country,” states the group’s mission statement. “We have laughed in the face of death, dismemberment and the enemies of the United States. Our mission is to bring veterans together using humor and camaraderie to improve mental health and prevent veteran suicide. We have experienced pain, tragedy and trauma, both overseas and at home, and we have used humor as a coping mechanism. Laughing in the midst of tragedy allows us to continue the mission without breaking down mentally every day.
“The connections and bonds made at our events allow veterans to create their own support network, thus solving the most crucial issue contributing to veteran suicide: isolation,” the website continues.
Irreverent Warriors acknowledges that its approach to preventing suicide is unconventional, but then again, so are veterans.
“Veterans are different, and therefore use different methods of coping,” states the Silkies Hike press release. “In the face of tragedy, a veteran is more likely to use humor as a coping mechanism than anything else. The mission of the Silkies Hike is to bring veterans together with laughter and camaraderie, to provide a day of therapy. These hikes support and spread our bottom line, which is, ‘Put the gun back on safe, put it back on the nightstand and stick around a bit longer.’”
The Saturday Silkies Hike starts with an 8 a.m. registration and 9 a.m. start at Higgs Beach Fitness Park and will continue through the city, including Bayview Park, Mallory Square and Duval Street, ending back at Higgs Beach.
For more information, visit IrreverentWarriors.com or email SeanCEdwards@yahoo.com for information specific to the Key West event.
