Army veteran and wounded warrior Brian “Amarok” Critton received a motorcycle from Harley-Davidson’s new G.I. Enthusiast Collection in recognition for his service to our country, bravery in navigating his own mental health battles post-service, and being an outspoken advocate of asking for help when struggling.
Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Mike Linnington, CEO of Wounded Warrior Project, and Eric Voce, VP of operations at Adamec Harley-Davidson, presented Critton with the bike on Sept. 14, to coincide with Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. The VA’s latest research indicates that as many as 17 veterans are lost each day to suicide.
Critton served for a decade in the U.S. Army, including a tour in Iraq. Harley-Davidson chose Critton to receive the bike because of his service on and off the battlefield. In March, Critton was riding a Harley-Davidson bike when he witnessed a fiery car crash and pulled a woman from a burning vehicle. Critton has been open about his personal journey with mental health challenges, and has been an active advocate of veterans’ mental health.
The presentation expanded on the importance of continuing the conversation around mental health and empowering others to seek help. Nearly 1 in 4 Wounded Warrior Project warriors have had suicidal thoughts in the past 12 months. Of the warriors who reported these suicidal thoughts, most (70%) had them in the last two weeks.
