U.S. Army veterans Robert Beamon and Stan Sudduth forged a bond 20 years ago that remains strong as union members in AFSCME Local 391 (State Corrections).

They have stayed side by side through military deployment to becoming correctional officers to serving as union leaders.

Beamon, Local 391 vice president, and Sudduth, an executive board member, met in the Army in 2000 through the military police in Hartford.

Many AFSCME members work in high-stress fields such as public safety, health care, emergency medical services and firefighting. Their jobs have become even more stressful since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced many of these workers to put their and their families’ well-being at risk while serving their communities.

But when these everyday heroes face mental health issues as a result of the high-stress environment and duties that expose them to trauma, they are often expected to deal with such challenges on their own.

It’s time to change that.

It might seem like a long way from performing in shows like “42nd Street'' to mentoring students at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven.

The way Angela Ruggiero sees it, working as the associate director at the Center for Pre-Professional Programs fills her with a passion and sense of accomplishment similar to what she experienced during her professional career in musical theater.