Joanna Eldridge, Widow Of Marine Justin Eldridge, To Join Blumenthal As State Of The Union Guest

(Hartford, CT) – Oxford resident Joanna Eldridge will join U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) as his guest at the President’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, January 20. Eldridge is the widow of U.S. Marine Justin Eldridge, who tragically took his life in October of 2013 after a lengthy battle with post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury. Justin returned home from serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in Afghanistan, where he saw mortar and sniper fire, only to battle with anxiety, depression, and ultimately traumatic brain injury that long went undiagnosed. 

“Justin Eldridge is one of thousands of veterans who have lost their battle to invisible wounds of war," Blumenthal said. "Even as we lose another 22 veterans each day to suicide, we must not forget the spouses, children and community they leave behind. Joanna stood relentlessly by her husband’s side throughout his struggle, advocating not just for him, but fighting for better care for all of our veterans.

“With Joanna in the audience and veterans and their families across the country listening at home, I urge the President to address this crisis and couple it with a call for action. We owe Justin, Joanna, Clay Hunt, Clay’s mom Susan Selke, and so many more our utmost gratitude for their service and their commitment. It is an honor to have Joanna with me for this year’s State of the Union address. 

“As a solid, significant step toward addressing veteran mental health issues, I joined with Senator John McCain to re-introduce the Clay Hunt SAV Act this year. Named for another brave veteran whose story mirrors Justin Eldridge’s, this bill provides additional resources for veterans who suffer from mental health disorders that place them at higher risk of suicide.”

Earlier this week, Blumenthal joined U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) in re-introducing the ClayHunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act, bipartisan legislation that would improve mental health care and suicide prevention resources for American service members. It evaluates suicide prevention programs currently in place in the VA, improves collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs and VSO’s, and provides loan repayments for psychiatrists and mental health professionals recruited to work at the VA, in addition to enhancing support and community outreach services. The bill, which passed the House of Representatives this week, will now proceed to the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs for consideration.

Blumenthal is the Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.