“It’s Not Just a Shirt. It’s a Final Apology — Stitched in Regret, Made to Save Lives.” — Johnny Joey Jones Breaks 12 Years of Silence Behind Boot Campaign’s Hidden Tragedy The decorated Marine is finally telling the story he’s carried in silence since 2011: the friend he couldn’t save, the message that came too late, and the one shirt that became both a memorial and a mission. This isn’t about merch. This is about grief, guilt, and a veteran’s desperate hope that no one else has to carry what he does. READ WHAT’S SEWN INSIDE…

“Suicide Isn’t Just a Veterans Issue” — It Became Personal in 2011

In 2011, I lost my best friend — a fellow veteran — to suicide.

That moment changed everything. It wasn’t just heartbreaking. It was maddening. The silence. The lack of support. The helplessness. I still carry the weight of wondering: What if more organizations had existed back then? What if someone — anyone — had reached him in time?

“We can’t stand by and allow those who serve to think this is the only option.”
— Johnny Joey Jones, reflecting on the death of Marine Sgt. Christopher McDonald, a friend who lost his battle with invisible wounds.

The Reality: Veterans Are at Higher Risk — and Still Fighting Battles at Home

While suicide is a national crisis, veterans face it at alarming rates:

• Veterans are 57–72% more likely to die by suicide than civilians.

• In 2021 alone, 6,392 veterans took their own lives, a tragic increase from the year before.

• Since 9/11, more than 30,000 veterans have died by suicide, nearly four times the number lost in combat.

These aren’t just statistics. They’re fathers, sisters, friends — and in my case, a brother-in-arms I’ll never forget.

Meet Boot Campaign — Fighting for Veterans Before It’s Too Late

Founded in 2009, Boot Campaign is a nonprofit dedicated to restoring the lives of veterans through individualized care — targeting the real issues many face after service: PTSD, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, substance use, and more.

Johnny Joey Jones’ Involvement

A retired Marine bomb technician who lost both legs in Afghanistan, Jones serves on the Boot Campaign board and often shares the story of his friend Chris McDonald — a Marine, a patriot, and a man lost to opioids and hopelessness.

“Until we treat every veteran as an individual, suicide will continue to feel like the only way out for some.” — Johnny Joey Jones

Their Programs

• Health & Wellness Program: Connects veterans with customized treatment plans — mental, physical, and emotional.

• Awareness Campaigns: Public outreach like “You Matter” and events nationwide.

• Fundraising through Gear: 100% of proceeds from merchandise (shirts, boots) go toward care for veterans.

Wear the Shirt. Change a Life.

This isn’t just apparel. It’s armor — not for war, but for healing.
Every shirt you buy through @bootcampaign helps fund lifesaving treatment for veterans who often feel forgotten. Every single cent goes directly to helping someone take one more breath, one more step — toward hope.

You’re not just buying a shirt.
You’re telling a veteran: You still matter. And you’re not alone.

From Personal Grief to Purposeful Action

Losing Chris in 2011 left me broken. But I refuse to let his death — and the deaths of thousands like him — be in vain.

Now, I fight for those who are still here.
And I invite you to fight with me.

Support Boot Campaign. Share this message. And above all, never let a hero feel like suicide is their only option.