On Jun. 27, 2010, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution declaring June 27 as National PTSD Awareness Day.

The date was chosen by North Dakota Senator Kent Conrad, the resolution’s sponsor. In April 2007 Conrad’s close friend Staff Sergeant Joe Biel took his own life due to complications from PTSD. June 27 was Biel’s birthday.

Today, there are currently about 12 million people in the United States with PTSD.