***A REMINDER - I WILL BE LIVE STREAMING MY REAL-TIME DEBATE RESPONSES ON MY FACEBOOK AND TWITTER TOMORROW NIGHT, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, AT 8:00 PM EASTERN***

Yesterday was the day 1 of my walk across the Granite State — walking in the shoes of New Hampshirites. 

Before my walk across New Hampshire began, though, my early morning was spent in the border town of Brattleboro, VT! You may find it interesting to know that the first ever social security benefit check was issued to a citizen of Brattleboro in 1940. Ever since that New Deal, our nation has continued to evolve in how we provide care towards each other, and we still have a long way to go. 

For example, many insurers still don’t cover the cost of mental healthcare. That’s especially troubling when considering that Mental Health America’s annual report has shown that the mental health of our youth and adults is getting worse. Almost 60 percent of youth with major depression and 57 percent of adults with mental illness receive no treatment. This is a major issue that needs to be addressed. 

I support fixing mental health care beginning with full enforcement of the mental health parity and addiction act. Those who need help should be able to attend institutions such as the wonderful Brattleboro Retreat. For over 150 years the Brattleboro Retreat has been adhering to concepts of moral treatment while integrating advanced methods of care. The retreat was kind enough to show me around the facilities and to introduce me to patients. For those patients, and the millions more who are unable to afford mental healthcare, we must ensure mental health parity. In the photo below, you can view a few of the scores of patches from first responder stations and military units whose personnel have been supported.

For more about my time in Brattleboro, [click here].

At that point, I decided to cross the Navy Seabees bridge into New Hampshire, and thus began my walk across the Granite State. The first day of my walk was especially meaningful given that it came on October 13th, the Navy’s birthday. The motto for this year, “No Higher Honor,” which were the words penned by the Commanding Officer of the USS Samuel B. Roberts, which was lost during the battle — and was the motto of the third ship named Samuel B. Roberts, which I commanded.  

My walk took me to Keene, NH, with a couple detours along the way. At 1 PM, just after passing Chesterfield, I stuck a stake in the ground, hopped into a car, and drove to Antrim to meet with Local Democrats. Afterwards, I drove to Marlborough to visit a Caterpillar Lab and the self-proclaimed “Caterpillar Czar”. I saw up close and personal the natural beauty that surrounds us every day, beauty that we often take for granted. We must maintain healthy habitats for the creatures who populate our world and for our posterity.  

My walk finished in Keene around 10 PM. While in town, I had coffee with locals. We spoke about restoring the American Dream.

I’m now kicking off day 2, where I’ll be traveling from Keene to Dublin. Here’s my schedule for the day:

• Keene. Walk begins at 8:30am.
• Keene. Visiting prisoners and administrators at Cheshire County Department of Corrections, 825 Marlboro Street at 10am.
• Dublin. Citizens United event at Dublin Public Library, 1114 Main Street at 3pm (T).
• Merrimack. Veterans and military families event at VFW Post 8641 Auxiliary Meeting at 6pm.
• Somersworth. Town meeting organized by local Democrats at the Teatotaller, 69 High St at 7:45pm.
• Dublin. End of day’s walk.

For more information, please check out our events page (here).

  Paid for by Joe Sestak for President.

Joe Sestak
P.O Box 17246
Alexandria, VA 22302
United States

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