Garbarino and Ryan introduce bipartisan resolution to recognize the Suicide Awareness and Remembrance flag as a national symbol and establish National Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day

Washington, D.C. – In a rare show of bipartisan unity, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are joining forces to shine a spotlight on one of the nation’s most urgent yet often overlooked crises: veteran and military suicide. Congressman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY-02) and Congressman Pat Ryan (D-NY-18) have introduced a resolution that seeks to officially recognize the Suicide Awareness and Remembrance (SAR) flag as a national symbol of remembrance and establish September 22 as “National Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day.”

The resolution aims to give the epidemic of veteran suicide a highly visible emblem and a dedicated day of reflection—steps that supporters believe will not only honor those who have died but also confront the stigma that continues to surround mental health struggles within the military community.

“Too many of our nation’s heroes return home only to be lost to the unseen wounds of war. By officially recognizing the Suicide Awareness and Remembrance flag and establishing a national day of observance, we honor their sacrifice and renew our promise to support every man and woman who’s worn the uniform. We must break the stigma around mental health, ensure our servicemembers and veterans know help is available, and reaffirm that this country will never leave its heroes behind,” said Rep. Garbarino.

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Rep. Ryan, who served in combat and has long spoken about the toll of war on mental health, echoed that call for action. “I served alongside brave men and women who returned home from combat, but we still lost to the invisible wounds of war. Losing one veteran or servicemember to suicide is too many,” Ryan said. “Our country has a solemn and sacred obligation to care for our veterans and servicemembers, and, when they’re gone, to honor their legacy and care for their families. An officially recognized Suicide Awareness and Remembrance flag will honor the memory of those we’ve lost and recommit us to fight to end the crisis of veteran and military suicide- and uphold our promises to those who serve our nation.”

A flag with powerful symbolism

The SAR flag, designed by U.S. Air Force veteran Kevin Hertell, carries deeply considered symbolism in every element. Inspired by the stark and widely recognized POW/MIA flag, it features a black background symbolizing mourning and solemn remembrance. At its center rests a gold five-pointed star, representing both the five branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and a service member lost to suicide. Encircling the star is a laurel wreath with 20 exposed leaves—each one representing the sobering statistic that approximately 20 veterans and active-duty personnel die by suicide every day. Across the bottom, the words “Honor The Fallen” serve as a solemn call to remember those lives cut short.

For Hertell, the mission is deeply personal. The veteran launched the initiative after losing his cousin to suicide, a tragedy that propelled him to campaign tirelessly for a national symbol of awareness and remembrance. “Suicide continues to be a leading cause of death for our Veterans and Military, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Our mission is to break the stigma of mental health, suicide, and seeking treatment within our warrior culture to facilitate suicide prevention for our Veterans and Military. The S.A.R. Flag is the symbol our country needs to break the stigma, to create a community of survivors, to honor the service and forever remember the lives of our Veterans and Military lost to suicide, and to be a tangible symbol of hope to living Veterans and Military to facilitate suicide prevention. In addition, by having a day of observance, we can elevate this issue within the public’s consciousness, be there for the surviving family members, and remind living Veterans and Military that they are not alone, and that stigma-free mental health help is available,” Hertell said.

His grassroots advocacy has already seen the SAR flag recognized in several state legislatures, including New York, Nebraska, and Arizona. Now, Hertell’s vision has found champions in Congress, where lawmakers are aiming to push the initiative to the national stage.

Bipartisan support builds momentum

The resolution has drawn support from across the political spectrum, underscoring the widespread recognition of the urgency of the issue. Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11), Nick LaLota (R-NY-01), Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24), and Joe Morelle (D-NY-25) have all signed on as co-sponsors.

“Designating September 22 as National Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day honors those who served and recognizes the struggles many face after coming home. With thousands of veteran and servicemember households in the Hudson Valley, the Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Flag will stand as a symbol of our commitment to breaking the stigma around mental health and ensuring every veteran knows support is available,” said Rep. Lawler.

“I join my colleagues in supporting this resolution to honor the servicemembers and veterans we’ve tragically lost to suicide and to raise awareness of this crisis. Providing the veterans of Staten Island and Southern Brooklyn with the services and support they deserve remains a top priority, and by designating the Suicide Awareness and Remembrance flag and recognizing September 22nd as National Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day, we reaffirm our commitment to preventing future tragedies and supporting our servicemen and women,” said Rep. Malliotakis.

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Rep. Tenney highlighted the staggering scale of the crisis. “Suicide among our veterans and service members is a crisis we cannot afford to ignore. Since 2001, more than 100,000 veterans have died by suicide, and every day over 20 more are lost,” she said. “By officially recognizing the Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Flag and establishing September 22 as National Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day, Congress is making a clear statement: this issue must remain front and center. Creating more visibility of the crisis reinforces our commitment to action and sends a message to veterans and service members that support is available.”

Rep. Morelle stressed the need for cultural change within the armed forces and veteran communities, particularly regarding mental health treatment. “It’s critical we ensure the courageous men and women who serve our nation have the essential mental health resources they need and deserve,” Morelle said. “We can stop the underutilization of prevention services by members of the military if we end the stigma associated with mental health treatment. The SAR flag will help achieve this goal by creating awareness and acceptance, while honoring the sacrifices of our servicemembers with a national symbol.”

Confronting a national crisis

The statistics on veteran suicide remain stark. Federal studies estimate that more than 100,000 veterans have died by suicide since the September 11 attacks. Every day, on average, 20 veterans or active-duty personnel take their own lives. For many advocates, these numbers underscore that the crisis is not just about individual tragedies but about systemic gaps in care, stigma around seeking help, and the lingering mental health wounds of service.

The introduction of the resolution is not a cure-all, but lawmakers and advocates alike see it as a vital step toward keeping the issue in public consciousness. By officially recognizing both a symbol and a day of observance, Congress hopes to create a rallying point for awareness, remembrance, and action.

The SAR Flag Corp., based in Huntington Station, New York, has positioned itself at the forefront of this effort. Through education campaigns, community outreach, and persistent advocacy, the organization continues to push for widespread adoption of the flag as a unifying emblem of both grief and hope.

For veterans and families directly impacted by suicide, such recognition carries more than symbolic weight. It provides visibility, validation, and an assurance that their loved ones’ sacrifices will not be forgotten.

A path forward

As Congress considers the resolution, supporters emphasize that the ultimate goal goes beyond recognition. They hope the visibility of the SAR flag and the establishment of National Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day will drive broader conversations about access to care, investment in prevention programs, and cultural change within the military community.

The bipartisan nature of the resolution has given advocates hope that the measure will gain traction quickly. In an era often defined by political division, the shared recognition of the cost of veteran suicide offers a rare area of consensus.

While legislation alone cannot heal the wounds of war or erase the loss families endure, lawmakers, veterans, and advocates believe it can be an important tool in moving the nation closer to addressing the crisis head-on. The SAR flag, stark in its design yet rich with meaning, is poised to become not just a banner of remembrance but also a call to action.