Traveling artwork stops in Plains en route to D.C.

You could see and feel the emotion coming from Army Veteran Jim Layton as he stepped to the back of the Veterans Suicide Awareness painting and signed his name. He was doing so to honor a longtime friend and fellow veteran who recently took his own life.

“It is important we bring awareness of this problem to the public, there are too many veterans who feel there is no other way out from the pain they feel,” Layton said. “My friend was struggling with life but he never said anything about it other than telling a few people he was having nightmares about combat.”

Layton’s friend was among a startling number of veterans who have taken their own life in recent years, unable to cope with inner turmoil and torment. In an attempt to draw attention to the nationwide problem and find solutions to help those in often silent inner chaos, Plains artist David Williams and other member of the Project Mariposa Organization embarked this month on a journey that will take them from their starting point in Neah Bay, Washington to the nation’s capital where it will be donated to the country and accepted by members of the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. The final destination is the at Lincoln Memorial, the designated site to complete the group’s long journey.

Already they have stopped at several military bases in Washington, including Joint Base McChord/Fort Lewis and Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane.

In all, the group intends to make 42 stops on the way to Washington , DC.

“We load and unload the artwork at each stop along the way,” said Mariposa and VFW official Heather Allen of Plains. “It's a lot of work and a big undertaking, but we are doing this to help those considering suicide find help they may need”.

The 6-foot by 8-foot canvas board and custom-made frame depict a green horse on one side, with space for those who’s lives have been affected by veteran suicide, be it family or friend, on the other side so they can pay tribute by signing their names.

And they can also add a green star, the symbol designated to signify and support Green Star families.

Also painted on the casing that holds the artwork is a startling statistic of which most people are not aware: 19 Native Americans and 22 Veterans take their own life each day across the nation.

“Not a lot of people recognize the very significant contributions Native Americans have made to help defend and protect the country,” Williams said. “They are often the best of the military in their dedication and devotion to the nation and they have the highest per-capita veteran’s suicide rate.

So far, Williams said, Congressman Matt Rosendale is the only member of the Montana Congressional delegation who has said he will be at the Lincoln Memorial ceremony. Senator Steve Daines has said he will not be able to attend and Sen. Jon Tester has yet to reply to the invitation.

After their stop here in Plains, the traveling exhibit and crew will head to Kalispell, Missoula and Butte before stopping in Helena, Williams said.

Meanwhile, having signed his name to the back of the artwork, Layton said he felt honored to have his friend remembered and has hopes the exhibit will attract attention to Veteran suicide all along the long journey ahead.

“I hope this will encourage fellow service members and others who want to help to pitch in and do so,” Layton said. “It could sometimes be as seemingly insignificant as asking a veteran how he is and if there is anything he would like to talk about. Letting them know someone is there and cares about them. Just basically helping people with their thoughts and feelings”.

Layton added by the time anyone could react, his friend, John, had already taken his life.

“It felt good to put my name up there and honor him in this way”.

Navy Veteran Williams agreed with those sentiments.

“We Veterans hide really well when we take off our uniforms but we are still here,” Williams said. “We are in every community and the lives of the men and women who served with us matter.”