District Attorney Hoovler joined Hudson Valley VA Healthcare System to create a Coalition to Prevent Veterans from Committing Suicide in November 2021

District Attorney David M. Hoovler, and both Carl LoFaro and Lenox Okall from the Hudson Valley VA Healthcare System along with Joel Murns of the Middletown Vet Center announced that the Orange County Veteran Suicide Prevention Coalition will put out a veteran information table during the Washingtonville Fire Department 1^st Annual Car, Bike and Truck Show on Sunday September 8th, 2024, to hand out veteran crisis materials and veteran benefit information. This car, bike and truck show is free for spectators and registration of vehicles for the event is $15 per vehicle.  The event runs from 9am until 2pm at Vern Allen Park located in Washingtonville, New York. The coalition has already placed over 43,000 suicide prevention materials in over 1,128 businesses and organizations located in and near Orange County, New York.  The coalition hopes to reach even more people with their message at this car, bike and truck show.  In addition, the District Attorney’s office will have booklets to pass out on preventing senior citizen fraud and materials on the opioid crisis with a view towards preventing drug use and overdose by our young people.

The Orange County Veteran Suicide Prevention Coalition is trying to reach as many veterans and their families as possible with their suicide prevention message.  Since car shows draw large crowds, many of whom are veterans, this event is a great place to meet veterans who might not have seen the materials we have placed out in public already.  Representatives of the Hudson Valley VA Healthcare System, Middletown Vet Center and an Orange County ADA will be on site if anyone would like to discuss the information in our handouts or set up a future meeting to speak to a group live about suicide prevention. The coalition has already been to several veteran organizations and sportsmen’s clubs to speak about suicide prevention and are looking to speak to more interested groups in the future.

“I am proud of the work that the Orange County Veteran Suicide Prevention Coalition has done for Orange County veterans and their families and of the strong support that has been provided to the coalition by the citizens and businesses of Orange County including the Washingtonville Fire Department.” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. Please come out to the show and support the Washingtonville Fire Department!  If you or your organization would like any veteran crisis materials or information about any of the other Veterans groups helping us in Orange County, please stop by our table. The coalition will be happy to assist you.  You can also contact Mr. Carl LoFaro of the Hudson Valley VA Healthcare System at carl.lofaro@va.gov to get crisis materials sent to you or to set up a live meeting with your organization on this serious subject. Please contact Mr. Lenox Okall of the Hudson Valley VA Healthcare System at lenox.okall@va.gov  if you need information on VA benefits. Please contact Joel Murns at joel.murns@va.gov if you would like information about the Middletown Vet Center. Please contact Paul Niemann at fdniemann@gmail.com if you would like information on the car, bike and truck show.   Enjoy the Washingtonville Fire Department 1^st Annual Car, Bike and Truck Show!