Raymond and Mary Anne, who are Navy vets themselves, spoke with Fox News Digital about their healing journey since losing their son to suicide 20 years ago.
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK . It has been nearly 22 years since Raymond and Mary Anne Burke lost their 21-year-old son, Matthew, to suicide. Young Matthew Burke was home on leave for the Thanksgiving holiday from his U.S. Navy submarine duty. He left to take a drive and never returned.
Since then, the Burkes have been working tirelessly to bring attention to the issue of veteran suicide, which claimed more than 6,000 lives in 2020 alone. Navy vets themselves, the Burkes spoke with Fox News Digital about their personal journey — and said helping other families prevent or heal from that same tragedy has become 'their calling' in life. Matthew was a quiet and reserved child, his father said.
He was just really excited about serving his country,' said his dad. A couple of years after high school, their son enlisted in the Navy. 'He did some strenuous training prior to going, and he excelled in boot camp and sub school,' his father said. When he came home for Thanksgiving, he was excited to pick up his Corvette and drive it down to the Kings Bay Submarine Base, where he was stationed. 'He did seem quiet,' Mary Anne Burke recalled.
Take care of yourself first,' Raymond Burke said. 'No one can tell you how to grieve. Do whatever you can.' Even when the sorrow is intense, he stressed the importance of eating, getting exercise and holding onto friendships. 'We found out who our real friends were,' he also recalled. 'They were concerned about us and would come to check on us. And that is so important.
Below are some of the red flags: The Burkes emphasized the need for the military to take a more active role in recognizing the signs and supporting the mental health of those who serve. 'There are a lot of people who are afraid to come to the chain of command and talk about having a problem, because they’re afraid they will lose their security clearance,' Raymond Burke said. 'So they try to handle it on their own, and it becomes too much.
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