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A message from League of United Latin American Citizens
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View as web page:
[link removed]
August 25, 2023
Contact: David Cruz - (818) 689-9991 Mobile
[email protected]
LULAC SAYS RECENT DEATHS BY SUICIDE AT FT. CAVAZOS AFFIRMS WHY A PARTNERSHIP FOR
HEALING AND REBUILDING TRUST IS VITAL
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Nation's Oldest Latino Civil Rights Organization and the Brandon Caserta
Foundation Say They are Working 24-7 to Save Lives
Washington, DC – The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), together
with the Brandon Caserta Foundation, stands in deep sorrow and solidarity with
the families and community affected by the recent deaths by suicide at Ft.
Cavazos. As reports of these tragedies spread across social media platforms,
LULAC and the Brandon Caserta Foundation emphasize their unwavering commitment to
preventing further loss of life and fostering healing within the community.
"These deaths sadden us because each person is someone's son, daughter, brother,
or sister, a loved one to a family somewhere in our country," said Roman
Palomares, Chair of the LULAC National Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.
"They are not just a statistic. LULAC is committed to working
shoulder-to-shoulder with the U.S. Army to ensure we prevent these deaths, and we
will not stop until all suicides among active or veteran service members are
ended," said Palomares.
Patrick and Teri Caserta, authors of the Brandon Act and founders of the Brandon
Caserta Foundation, echo this commitment: "The Brandon Caserta Foundation is
committed to making sure that the roll-out of the Brandon Act is successful
Army-wide and is ready to help the branch do so at Fort Cavazos or any other
military installation worldwide."
Ft. Cavazos holds particular significance as the military installation where Army
Specialist Vanessa Guillen tragically lost her life, leading to the creation of
the Vanessa Guillen Act, aimed at addressing military sexual trauma (MST). This
factor tragically contributes to suicide. While Ft. Cavazos does not publicly
disclose all suicide-related information, past reports indicate that as early as
2016, 13 servicemembers died by suicide, underscoring the pressing need for
comprehensive intervention and support.
Lt. Col. Tania Donovan, the deputy public affairs officer for III Corps, the
central headquarters unit at Fort Cavazos, expressed concern regarding the recent
events. She affirmed that efforts are being made to address these distressing
incidents and underscored the importance of collaboration with organizations like
LULAC and the Brandon Caserta Foundation."
Analuisa Tapia, LULAC national board appointee and LULAC leader in Killeen,
Texas, the home of Ft. Cavazos, articulated the community's commitment to
restoring trust: "It is clear that our community's trust in the U.S. Army was
broken when Vanessa was killed. The healing will take time, but we are determined
to work with the Army in rebuilding that confidence and be our community's eyes
and ears in the process."
LULAC and the Brandon Caserta Foundation recognize that the journey toward
healing and trust-building is multifaceted and challenging. Through open
dialogue, cooperative initiatives, and comprehensive support mechanisms, they are
dedicated to ensuring that servicemembers receive the assistance they need and
that their lives are valued. As the nation grapples with the devastating impact
of suicide among active and veteran service members, LULAC and the Brandon
Caserta Foundation stand as steadfast allies in the fight against this tragic
loss of life. Through partnership, education, and advocacy, they are committed to
crafting a future where every individual, regardless of their service, finds
hope, support, and the opportunity to heal.
# # #
About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and
oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans
and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000
councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and
advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of
today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org [ [link removed] ] .
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