Tuesday, September 22, is Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day here in New York.

And today, I want to do more than simply acknowledge it.

On June 2, 2026, the New York State Assembly adopted Resolution K1553, memorializing the governor to proclaim September 22, 2026, Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day in New York.

The resolution recognizes the life and death of Senior Airman Robert McRae Dean, along with every veteran and active-duty service member who has died by suicide. It also calls attention to something that can be much harder to see than a physical wound: the struggles some veterans continue to carry long after military service ends.

So today I’m putting out a challenge.

THE SEPTEMBER 22 CHALLENGE

Do 22 of something today in honor or memory of a veteran.

It doesn’t have to be extreme.

Run for 22 minutes.

Walk your dog for 22 minutes.

Do 22 push-ups.

Do 22 sit-ups.

Hold a plank for 22 seconds.

Do 22 squats.

Practice 22 minutes of yoga — or doga.

Walk 22 laps around your yard.

Take 22 slow, intentional breaths.

Or simply choose your own version of 22. Donate $22 to a favorite charity.

You don’t need to be a veteran.

You don’t need to live in New York.

You don’t have to be a runner or an athlete.

You just have to take a few minutes today to remember why you’re doing it.

Two feet. Four paws. Twenty-two reps, seconds, steps or minutes. Just keep moving forward.

And maybe there’s another part to this challenge that is even more important than the workout.

Reach out.

Check on somebody. (this can be your 22 minutes of checking in with someone you care about or forgot to call lately- talk or visit them for at least 22 minutes!)

Call a veteran you haven’t spoken with lately. Send the text. Leave the voicemail. Ask how they’re doing — and take the time to listen to the answer.

Today’s creator recommendation: Veteran with a Pen

Veteran With A Pen Brian Patrick I write about how I’ve done things, and to share experiences I've had; I hope you can find some humor or value in my articles. A bit about me- I served over 9 years in the Marine Corps fixing helicopters. I’ve always enjoyed running and even ran a 50-mile ultramarathon. I struggle with time - balancing a full-time career in aerospace, family life with kids and a dog keeps me off the couch- unless I am napping…. I checked the box a few years ago and got an MBA, another wild balance of family, career, and running. When I’m not working or running, I like to grow my hot peppers and garlic and writing modern haikus about running culture—mostly on Instagram, and, I write articles on Medium. For the past five years, I’ve volunteered as a mentor, helping service members transition from military to civilian careers. It’s one of the ways I stay connected to the community that shaped me.If you’ve made it this far, thank you. And I thank you in advance if you subscribe to my newsletter. I hope your day is the best day ever. - Brian Subscribe​

That brings me to someone I recently discovered who fits today’s conversation remarkably well: Brian Patrick, creator of Veteran with a Pen.

Brian served more than nine years in the Marine Corps fixing helicopters.

That immediately caught my attention.

As an Army veteran who served in military intelligence in Germany — around plenty of those helicopters myself — I couldn’t help smiling when I read that part.

But then I kept reading.

He’s a runner.

I’m a runner.

He’s completed a 50-mile ultramarathon.

Okay, Brian, you’ve got me beat there, I think that is the Marine in YOU

He has a dog.

He writes.

He balances a full-time career in aerospace with family life.

And for the past several years, he has volunteered as a mentor helping service members transition from military service into civilian careers.

His writing isn’t about pretending to have everything figured out. He writes about experiences, things he’s learned, running, work, life and occasionally finding the humor somewhere in the middle of all of it.

That’s my kind of creator.

So today, I’m recommending: Veteran with a Pen by Brian Patrick.

I subscribed too.

Because sometimes supporting another creator isn’t just about finding someone who writes about exactly the same subjects you do.

Sometimes it’s about recognizing a familiar thread in somebody else’s story.

Service.

Purpose.

Running.

Dogs.

Writing.

Helping someone else along the way.

And continuing to move forward.

Remember Your challenge:

Pick your 22.

Do it for someone.

And if a dog wants to join you?

Even better.

Tomorrow we'll continue a similiar connversation.......

Happy and healthy tail wagging day,

Pam & Freedom

Doggone Healthy Choices

P.S. If you are a Veteran in crisis — or you’re concerned about a Veteran — confidential support is available 24/7 through the Veterans Crisis Line. Dial 988 (tel:988) and press 1, text 838255, or use the Veterans Crisis Line online chat. You do not need to be enrolled in VA health care to connect.

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