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The event honored Navy SEAL Senior Chief Petty Officer Chad Wilkinson who died by suicide in 2018. Students were asked to carry a weighted pack to symbolize the heavy emotional load carried by service members.

The stakes of the event were underscored by grim statistics. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the suicide rate among veterans is significantly higher than for the non-veteran population, with an average of approximately 17 veterans dying by suicide every day.

Despite the difficulty, students pushed through, driven by the challenge’s deeper meaning, red-faced and huffing. About halfway through, some students paused for a short break then continued to push.

“I feel like it’s really important because there’s so many service members who have dedicated their lives to helping us and a lot of them have either lost their lives or have gone through mental struggles during or after their service,” said sophomore Josie Nickols.

Her classmate, Kendra Duling, connected the challenge to the core meaning of military service.

“It just shows how much solidarity someone has and how brave they are to put their life on the line for a country full of people,” Duling said.

The event, led by special education aide Michele Schroeder, received strong support from the local military community.

Staff Sgt. Christian Herrera, an Army recruiter in Janesville, joined the students to complete the challenge, offering direct encouragement and support to those struggling to finish the 1,000 steps.

“The community of Rock University and the military, again, showing up and that we need each other,” Schroeder stated.

She also organized the event with her son, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Sgt. Cody Schroeder, an infantry designated marksman, who also participated alongside the students.

Sgt. Schroeder, who finished his service in 2019, spoke bluntly about the invisible war many veterans face.

“My military service was difficult. We lost quite a few of our friends to suicide,” Schroeder said. He explained that the workout gives students a necessary perspective.

“The kids just need to know what kind of challenges we go through. This is just a small taste of the last 10 years that I did... but it gets ‘em thinking a little bit more about veterans and how we can just be hiding in plain sight.”

He added that on Veterans Day, the public support is vital.

“It makes me feel appreciated that I’m not just invisible. It’s nice to know that the American public hasn’t forgotten about us.”

Schroeder stressed that the event helps prevent Veterans Day from becoming “just another day” for students. She stayed with participants for over an hour, committed to anyone who needed extra time to complete all 1,000 steps.

“They’re carrying something, whether they realize it or not,” she said of the students carrying their weighted packs. “And they can carry others and help them and they’re learning that, too.”