MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Monday will participate in the Operation Iron Ruck News Conference and proclaim Wednesday, November 27, 2024, as Operation Iron Ruck Day in the state of Alabama.
Operation Iron Ruck is an annual event that raises awareness and funds for veteran suicide prevention. Each year, student veterans, veteran alumni and ROTC members from The University of Alabama (UA) and Auburn University (AU) ruck 151 miles from the away team’s stadium to the home team’s stadium. Along with the game ball carried to the home team’s stadium, they also carry 22 pounds of donated materials to represent the estimated 22 veterans who die by suicide every day. The annual ruck was founded in 2018 by student veterans from UA and AU.
Governor Ivey will be joined by Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs Interim Commissioner Jeff Newton and Operation Iron Ruck Event Coordinator at Auburn Student Veterans Association Bill Schwenk, among others.
Media Release/Office of Alabama Governor Kay Ivey
