MONTEVALLO, Ala. – Alabama’s “Operation We Remember” campaign is a powerful statewide initiative honoring veterans lost to suicide, and the Honor Our Veterans Committee of America 250 Alabama (www.america250al.org) is proud to join this important effort. Operation We Remember includes participants from colleges, high schools, community groups and civic organizations across the state. Each participant will display 139 American flags, representing the Alabama veterans who tragically died by suicide in 2023.
In partnership with the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, the committee is helping expand the campaign’s reach by sponsoring the distribution of 150 Veterans Crisis Line yard signs across the state. These signs, displayed alongside the flag installations, connect veterans and their families to the Veterans Crisis Line (988, then press 1) — a critical, life-saving resource.
The American Village, designated as the Semiquincentennial Celebration Capitol in Alabama for America’s 250th birthday, is participating in this year’s initiative by installing its own powerful display of 139 American flags at the National Veterans Shrine on campus. This tribute serves as a visual reminder of the mental health crisis affecting our heroes and the urgent need for awareness and support.
Together, these efforts amplify the message of “Operation We Remember”: to honor those we’ve lost, to support those still with us and to help save lives through connection, compassion and awareness.
The American Village display will begin Sept. 12, and go through Oct. 13 (the Navy’s 250th birthday). Every community is encouraged to participate in Operation We Remember.
We lose 18 veterans a day to suicide. That’s more than in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan combined. These are men and women of the United States Armed Forces, veterans who served their country in defense of liberty, of freedom. We owe America’s veterans not only our thanks and respect for their service, but our best efforts to support their needs, whether it be housing, jobs, physical or mental health.
The American Village is located at 3727 Highway 119, Montevallo, AL 35115.
