Boardwalk march benefits veterans

Long Beach-based nonprofit wellness center Peaceful Minds held its 5th Annual Boardwalk March on June 13 as residents joined members of Lt. John F. O’Grady VFW Post 1384, the Ancient Order of the Hibernians Division 17 and the “Fighting” 69th Infantry unit to walk along the boardwalk from New York Avenue to National Blvd to raise money for veterans.

Peaceful Minds offers free, holistic treatments to “silently wounded” veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom that served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Executive Director Amy Mahoney — a licensed acupuncturist and board certified herbalist and
AcuDetox specialist — said she founded Peaceful Minds in the memory of her friend and Long Beach resident Daniel Stewart, a FDNY EMT who participated in the relief efforts at Ground Zero after the events of September 11 and who took his own life in 2002.

She added that each year the Boardwalk March honors Sergeant John J. Barbado, a member of local infantry unit the “Fighting” 69th who participated in the first two walks while being treated for post traumatic stress disorder. Money is raised for Peaceful Minds through donations and registration fees.

Attendance was down at this year’s march, which Mahoney attributed to possibly either a change from the event’s original date — meant to coincide with Armed Forces Day in May — or growing apathy in the public toward the mental and emotional toll taken on veterans during their service.

“People are almost starting to forget that we still have to serve these veterans,” Mahoney said. “Now here we are ten years later, and some of them are just now coming out for help after maybe being in denial all that time. Now, just as important as five years ago, it’s important to be there for them.”

She added that the march is typically planned around the drill schedule of the 69th Infantry unit so that they can participate in uniform, but because of the date change many of them were unable to attend this year.

Following the event, an after party was held at Swingbelly’s Smokehouse for music and raffles.