Coast Guard veteran Robert Luna is on a mission.
He’s walking across the southern United States in hopes of raising awareness about mental health issues veterans are struggling with.
He says the idea came after he retired following 28 years of military service.
“It’s a transition from having an identity to having no identity,” he said.
Luna’s journey started in Alabama in May, and he hopes to reach Los Angeles by mid-October. He’s calling the journey AL2LA.
Walking at just over 20 miles a day, Luna said he’s ahead of schedule.
Luna said he had his own mental health issues he struggled with and felt like there wasn’t enough support or understanding about how to help veterans in need.
“It took me 5½ months to get help, and you see why some veterans chose to leave this Earth instead,” he said. “They feel like there’s no hope when they can’t get immediate help.”
According to a 2023 report from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which includes the most recent statistics, over 6,000 veterans ended their lives in 2021, an increase of 11.6% from 2020.
He’s working with the Coast Guard Foundation to establish a trust that would help veterans and their families get the support they need.
“I’ve met with several VFWs as I’ve made my way through New Mexico, and I passed through Tijeras and the East Mountains which were really beautiful,” he said.
With the help of local veterans services and donations from people following his journey, he stays in hotels or people invite him into their houses.
Visit AL2LA.us to read about Luna’s journey or to make a donation. To learn more about military mental health support and resources, visit militaryonesource.mil/all-the-ways.