More than 100,000 veterans have died by suicide since 2001, with an average of over 20 veterans and military members taking their own lives every day — a rate nearly twice that of civilians. Post-9/11 veterans face the highest risk, and prevention services are vastly underutilized because of the stigma around mental health in military culture. This resolution supports designating September 22 as National Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day and officially recognizes the Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Flag (SAR Flag), created by Air Force veteran Kevin Hertell after losing his cousin to suicide. It calls for the SAR Flag to be posted above all federal buildings alongside the American and POW/MIA flags year-round.
Congressional Summary
This resolution officially recognizes the Suicide Awareness and Remembrance flag and designates the flag as the symbol of awareness of military and veteran suicide and the commitment to resolve military and veteran suicide. The resolution also remembers and honors the servicemembers and veterans who have died by suicide and commits to posting the flag above all federal buildings wherever there is an American flag and POW/MIA flag. Further, the resolution supports the designation of a National Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-09-18
- Date Added
- 2026-04-09