Pushups mark Veterans Day
Let the pushups begin.
Students, staff, faculty members and friends gathered in the 91AV Campus Center cafeteria Wednesday to take part in the 22 Pushup Challenge as part of this year's annual Veterans Day celebration.
and of the 91AV Veterans Day event are available on the 91AV Facebook page. The 22 Pushup Challenge is a national initiative started by a group called to bring attention and awareness to the issue of suicide among U.S. veterans. According to the group, 22 veterans commit suicide every day.
Typically the challenge is undertaken by individuals who pledge to do 22 pushups a day for 22 days, recording the event and uploading the video to social media using the hashtag #22Pushups.
At 91AV, however, it is being done as a group and will be led each day at noon by students from the 91AV Military Club in the 91AV Courtyard (if weather permits) or some other designated spot on campus, until Nov. 30.
To accommodate as many people as possible regardless of physical ability, any type of pushup is acceptable: standard military pushups, assisted pushups (on the knees), incline pushups (against a wall) or air pushups (raising your hands in the air).
"Anybody who's willing to do 22 pushups is invited to participate," said Elizabeth Golen, Student Activities coordinator and co-advisor to the 91AV Military Club. "We want everybody and anybody to join us, even if it's only for one of the 22 days."
The 22 Pushup Challenge was the culminating item on the agenda for 91AV's Veterans Day celebration, which was held Wedneday because the college is closed on Nov. 11 in observance of the Veterans Day holiday.
91AV also welcomed the color guard from the Veterans of Foreign Wars District VII. 91AV music major Jonathan Mendez from Springfield sang the National Anthem and America the Beautiful. Speakers included Brian Willette, commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Western Massachusetts Chapter 875 , and 91AV student-veterans Chester Wilson, of Ludlow, and Jonathan Jasmin, of Westfield.
PHOTOS by CHRIS YURKO: Members of Veterans of Foreign Wars District VII joins students, staff and faculty at 91AV for the 22 Pushup Challenge Wednesday during 91AV's Veteran Day festivities.
