Yellow Ribbon Walk stresses hope

Message is it's OK to ask for help

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Stressing the message that it is OK to ask for help, New Ulm's fourth Yellow Ribbon Walk Saturday was dedicated in the loving memory of New Ulmite Nathan Richter and all others lost to suicide.

Dozens of walkers followed the route from German Park on German Street to 6th North, west to Minnesota Street, south to 6th South, east to German Street and north to German Park.

Yellow ribbons were placed on light posts in downtown New Ulm to promote awareness about mental health issues and prevent suicide.

A message written in Nathan Richter's memory by his sister, Jenny Lundgren of Norwood-Young America, was among the hand-outs available at German Park.

Lundgren described her feelings in "Smiles From Heaven."

"Whatever hurt him in his head, I will never understand," Lundgren wrote. "...until he died, I never knew what depression could do or how much it hurt someone.

"But now I am not so naive. I know that it can happen to anyone, any family, at any time. I do not understanding how it invades a mind and makes your thinking skewed...I understand what it can do to a family. I am proud to say my family would not let it bring us down.

"We could sit back and just keep our mouths shut and let people think what Nate had was an embarrassment to us or we can tell you the truth; what we didn't know, what we went through, and what we know now...and hopefully another family will be spared the same fate."

Earlier this year, the Al and Linda Richter family sponsored Golf Date Fore Nate at the Winthrop Golf Club to promote awareness. The Richters and others at the meeting welcomed anybody dealing with the same issue to speak to them about it.

New Ulm Major Joel Albrecht urged walkers to take a look at themselves and take inventory, get on their knees and pray, thanking God for the things he has given them and what they can give back.

New Ulm therapist Rebecca Aadland-Schoper said she was always taught to be cheerful when she was young, but that it was a charade.

"My therapist believed in me," Aadland-Schoper said. She found counseling so much fun and life-changing, she became one after 14 years as a music teacher.

"We hope for courage to rise above teasing and cruelty," she said. "We need to find a way to deal with pain instead of addictions like drugs, alcohol, work or even a Gameboy. We're here to be real, not perfect."

New Ulm Police Officer Jerry Losinski said communication is important.

"If you're a good communicator, you'll go far in life," Losinski said.

New Ulm Yellow Ribbon Board Director Gerri Wilfahrt said she was pleased with the best local turnout for the event yet. Over 60 people walked for the event.

"The Richters are a courageous family," Wilfahrt said. "Most people try to hide things like that."

Students Performing On Tough Situations, (SPOTS) of New Ulm, performed several times during the program before the walk.

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death in Minnesota for ages 10 to 34 and it is the fastest-growing killer in America.

The New Ulm Chapter of the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program is located at 700 South Broadway. Call 233-3470.

Twenty-four hour toll-free crisis lines can be reached at 1-800-865-0606 and 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433).

Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com