Last April Tom and Adele Bearup lost their son when he committed suicide after returning home from a tour in the Middle East and battling Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
We spoke to Tom Bearup about his son.
Bearup: “He was just a great young man and he loved people and helped people all the time. But James was out there and trying to do his part but he came back with a serious PTSD issue. Today we’re having 22-23 veterans a day that commit suicide.”
Tom and Adele said after their son’s death they wanted to do something to help reduce those numbers in the community so the couple has organized a special Valentine’s Day event to show their appreciation for veterans in the area.
Bearup: “We’re now reaching out to people throughout the whole peninsula and we’re going to have a, what we call a sweetheart dinner for veterans and their spouses. And we want them to come on the 14th of February, it’s going to be from 6-10 pm. There will be dinner, there’s no cost at all. Adele and I just want to give back to the people who have given to us.”
This event will be at the Bearup’s residence, located just outside Soldotna. The address is 41212 Sterling Highway.
The Bearup’s do request that anyone planning on coming to the dinner RSVP at 907-953-9233.