Letter from the editor
When driving along the Black Horse Pike, you may notice hundreds of American flags displayed in front of the Pleasantville Music Shoppe. Or perhaps you’ve seen even larger displays in Brigantine and along the White Horse Pike in Galloway. These flags are part of Flags for the Forgotten.
Each flag represents a life of service — a life of courage, sacrifice and love of country. Yet each also stands for a hero who survived active service to our country, only to lose the battle to suicide at home.
Across our communities, Flags for the Forgotten places flags in public spaces to honor veterans we’ve lost to suicide and to raise awareness of the invisible wounds many continue to carry. Each flag is both a tribute and a call to action — to reach out, to listen and to ensure that no veteran feels invisible or alone.
As Veterans Day approaches, these displays serve as a powerful reminder of the hidden battles so many veterans face long after their service ends. The local initiative shines a light on the devastating toll of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other service-related injuries. On average, 17 veterans die by suicide each day in the United States — a tragic figure, though down from 22 per day when Flags for the Forgotten began in 2017. Still, 17 a day is 17 too many.
Much more must be done to support veterans as they transition to civilian life and cope with the lingering effects of war, including PTSD and traumatic brain injury.
This Veterans Day, as we proudly salute those who served, let’s also remember those still fighting battles we cannot see. Healing begins with awareness, compassion and connection. Sometimes, it starts with something as simple as a phone call, a conversation — or a flag fluttering gently in the November breeze.
If you or someone you know is a veteran struggling with mental health challenges, help is available. The Veterans Crisis Line can be reached by dialing 988, then pressing 1 — 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Each call is answered within seconds, and according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 86% of veterans who make that call find the help they need to choose life.
If you’re interested in supporting Flags for the Forgotten or hosting a display at your business or community space, contact John DeMarco, a Vietnam veteran who, along with the Villa Marie Knights of Columbus Council 1642, brought the initiative to South Jersey. DiMarco and his volunteers have set up approximately 50 displays each year since 2018. He can be reached at jadbklyn@gmail.com.
Let’s stand together for all who stood for us. May God bless America.
Peace & Love,
Cindy
