DOTHAN, Ala. (WDNews) — Troy University’s TROY for Troops Center will take part in a statewide effort to honor Alabama veterans lost to suicide over the past year.
On Sept. 8, 139 American flags will be placed on the quad in front of John R. Lewis Hall, each one representing a veteran who died by suicide in Alabama. The tribute is part of “Operation We Remember,” an annual event coordinated by the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, the Alabama Department of Mental Health, and colleges and universities across the state.
The initiative is held every September during National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Organizers say the display is meant to both honor fallen veterans and call attention to the lasting impact of mental health struggles, often referred to as “invisible wounds.”
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ 2024 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, 6,407 veterans nationwide died by suicide in 2022 — an average of 17.6 per day. Free, confidential help for veterans is available year-round through the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988.
