Copyright The Boston Globe
A memorial honoring veterans and families affected by PTSD was unveiled on Sunday at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy campus ahead of Veterans Day. The memorial will be placed later at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Buzzards Bay and is engraved with the phrase, “In tribute to those who served and sacrificed. Unconditional love, healing, and peace to all.” The ceremony was hosted by the Timothy “Doc” Cook Foundation & Scholarship Committee, the organization said in statement. Cook, from South Boston, was a U.S. Navy Corpsman in the Iraq war who struggled with PTSD and died by suicide in 2013. Joe Cook, Tim’s father, created the foundation in 2014 a year after Cook’s death, to educate and bring awareness to the “invisible wounds,” of PTSD, he said in an interview. Advertisement “There’s just a stigma around mental health,” Cook said. “I knew I couldn’t bring my son back, so I said ‘I gotta pay it forward.’” Around 500 people were in attendance at the unveiling which included veterans, Gold Star and military families, and community members, Cook said. “This memorial ensures their experiences are not forgotten and that their sacrifices are honored with dignity and respect,” the foundation said. Cook described the atmosphere as “patriotic,” with support and remarks from the Military Friends Foundation, Joint Veterans Committee of Bourne National Cemetery, and Department of Veteran Affairs. “It wasn’t a sad moment whatsoever. There was a lot of joy and pride,” Cook said. The foundation also awards scholarships to students who work to bring awareness to PTSD. Advertisement Cook said he urges military families struggling with PTSD to “never forget the unconditional love.” “A lot of people can lose sight of that when you’re going through some ugliness,” he said. “You can’t ever forget the love, I can still feel my son’s love.” Camille Bugayong can be reached at camille.bugayong@globe.com.
