Alabama to honor veterans lost to suicide

Flags at DABOS Park in Montgomery remember the lives of Alabama veterans who died by suicide. – Photo from the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WAKA) – The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs has launched its 2026 Operation We Remember campaign, a statewide veteran suicide prevention awareness initiative honoring Alabama veterans who have lost their lives to suicide.

The campaign brings together universities, community colleges, high schools, government agencies, municipalities and community organizations across Alabama to raise awareness of the importance of supporting veterans and their well-being.

Operation We Remember features a flag display to honor and remember the Alabama veterans who have lost their lives to suicide. In 2026, the display features 150 American flags for the 150 veterans in Alabama who died by suicide in 2024.

ADVA staff, the Montgomery Military and Veterans Commission and other attendees set up a display at the Montgomery Biscuits’ DABOS Park today.

“Every one of these 150 flags represents an Alabama veteran whose life mattered, whose service mattered, and whose loss is felt by families, friends and communities across our state,” said ADVA Commissioner Jeff Newton. “Operation We Remember is about honoring their legacy, but it is also about making sure the veterans who are with us today know that they are not alone. We have a responsibility to remember those we have lost while doing everything we can to help prevent the next loss.”

Operation We Remember serves as one part of ADVA’s broader commitment to veteran suicide prevention and veteran well-being. Through partnerships with organizations and communities across Alabama, the department works to ensure veterans have access to resources, support and connections that can make a difference.

CLICK HERE for more information about Operation We Remember and services available through the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs.