Group marches from Pomona to Riverside to raise awareness of suicide among vets

POMONA, Calif. (KABC) -- On this Memorial Day, a group of people are marching 40 miles from Pomona to the Riverside National Cemetery to raise awareness about suicide among veterans.

The group consists of about 40 veterans, active-duty service members and their family and friends.

They're marching while carrying a backpack weighing no less than 22 pounds, to recognize that an average of 22 veterans commit suicide every day due to depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Each bag also has a picture of a veteran who has committed suicide, along with an American flag.

And for many on the march, it's personal.

"Served some time over in Iraq, and this kind of thing is just something to get my mind straight," said Michael Elkins, a veteran.

The group began the march at 9 p.m. Sunday. They're expected to reach the Riverside National Cemetery sometime Monday morning.

This is the group's third year doing the 40-mile march.