Dedicating the Veterans Camino to a lost soldier came about unexpectedly. It wasn’t by design. However, it has become a major part of the Veterans journey each time we make the trek. This spring, we dedicated the walk to Casey Saunier. He was very much part of our journey and our group. Every evening, we would sit as a family to have dinner, before beginning our meal a few words were said, and glasses raised in honor of our silent brother. It is a fact that Casey brought us all closer together as we thought about and talked about how each of us had also been in that dark place. We found our way out while Casey did not.

In July, I took a trip to Louisiana to pay my respects to Casey’s family and friends who had gathered to inter his ashes into his final resting place.

I would like to thank Casey’s sister, Kimberly for sharing her experience:

A PATH TO PEACE

My brother, Sgt. Casey Saunier, a Marine veteran with three tours of duty was an exceptional son, friend, Marine and brother. For over a decade, he fought the demons that came home with him from his deployments serving our country. On December 12, 2017, he lost the battle and took his own life. My family was shaken to the core. We wondered if we would ever feel at peace again.

In March 2018, a family friend, Kat Cope, told us about Veterans on the Camino. She had taken the liberty to talk to Brad about Casey and tell his story. She had a bracelet made in Casey’s honor and asked him to dedicate walking the Camino in Casey’s name with the bracelet. Brad immediately agreed. He spoke with my parents and some of Casey’s fellow Marines to learn more about him. Along his 500-mile journey, he shared these stories with the fellow veterans he walked with.

For VOC to do this for Casey and my family was truly extraordinary. My family and I viewed this gesture as one more step toward closure and as one more thing being done in Casey’s name. We would wake up each morning to check to see if there was a new blog post or pictures. Brad would take the time throughout the journey to post pictures of him with Casey’s bracelet. That bracelet was more than a bracelet to us. It was a physical symbol of Casey’s spirit being with the Veterans as they made this ancient pilgrimage. We prayed that this journey would finally give Casey the peace that he spent the latter part of his life searching for. We believe he found it.

Two days before Casey’s birthday we held a memorial service to lay his ashes to rest and invited everyone who played a role in his life. Brad represented VOC and stayed with our family for the ceremony. Words cannot express what we felt that day. My parents were presented with the Compostella dedicated to Casey, along with the credential, a medallion, and two shells from the ocean symbolizing Casey’s walk to the end of the Earth. He also presented my parents with the bracelet he wore throughout the journey. My dad slipped the bracelet onto his wrist that night and has yet to take it off.

To say that this experience made an impact in our life is an understatement. Not only did his walk represent bringing peace to Casey’s soul but also bringing peace to our souls. My family and I will always be grateful for what VOC did for us. Casey sent so many good people into our lives to help us through our grief.