There is a particular kind of quiet that settles in about a year after the crisis passes.

The casseroles stopped arriving months ago. The phone calls thinned out. The friends who showed up in the first hard weeks have, understandably, returned to their own lives. And the veteran who once stood at the edge of something terrible — who was noticed, reached, and pulled back — now sits at a kitchen table on an ordinary Tuesday afternoon, and the house is silent.

This is the part nobody warns you about. Not the emergency. The aftermath.

We wrote in our last letter about Standing Watch — about how a trained neighbor can recognize a veteran in crisis and guide them toward help before the worst happens. That work is urgent, and it saves lives. But preventing a death is the floor, not the ceiling. Keeping someone alive on Monday means very little if we abandon them to the silence of every Tuesday that follows. The watch doesn’t end when the immediate danger lifts. In many ways, that’s when the longer, quieter, more human work begins.

June is PTSD Awareness Month. We’d like to spend it moving past awareness and toward something more useful: understanding, and then accompaniment.

What We Talk About When We Talk About PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder carries a heavy reputation, much of it earned in the wrong way. Popular culture has handed us a caricature — the volatile veteran, the ticking time bomb, the one who can never quite come home. It’s a story that frightens people, and frightened people keep their distance. Which is precisely the opposite of what healing requires.

So let’s replace the caricature with what the research actually shows.

PTSD is real, and those who served carry it more often than the rest of us do. At any given time, about one in twenty veterans is living with it — and among those who saw the heaviest fighting in Iraq or Afghanistan, closer to one in seven. It doesn’t fall evenly. Younger veterans bear more of it, as do women who served and those already reaching out to the VA for help. But these aren’t really numbers. Behind every one of them is a person who wakes up carrying something most of us were spared — a weight that never shows on the outside.

But here is what the caricature gets catastrophically wrong. PTSD is not a character flaw, and it is not a life sentence. It is an injury — a wound the mind sustains when it survives something the body was never built to absorb. When a soldier shatters a leg, we don’t call them broken beyond repair. We set the bone, we support the healing, and we walk alongside the recovery. The wounds we cannot see deserve no less.

PTSD is not a character flaw, and it is not a life sentence. It is an injury.

The Statistic That Changes Everything

If you take one number away from this letter, let it be this one.

For more than a decade, the most comprehensive long-term study of American veterans has been asking a quiet, almost startling question: Did anything good grow out of what you endured? When researchers first asked, about half of those who had lived through trauma said yes — they could name real, lasting growth on the far side of it. Ask the same question of veterans today, and that number has climbed to nearly two in three. And among those carrying the heaviest burden — the veterans struggling with PTSD itself — it runs higher still: roughly seven in ten a decade ago, and today, nearly nine in ten.

Read that again, because it overturns nearly everything the caricature taught us. The veterans struggling most with trauma were the most likely to report that the struggle had reshaped them in profound and positive ways: deeper relationships, renewed purpose, a hard-won clarity about what actually matters.

Researchers call this post-traumatic growth. It does not erase the pain, and it is not the same as “getting over it.” It is something stranger and more hopeful — the capacity of a person to be remade, rather than merely damaged, by what they’ve survived. And it is not the rare exception we’ve been led to expect. Most veterans turn out to be far more resilient than the headlines ever let on. Even through the hardest, most disrupted years in recent memory, more than eight in ten came through without lasting psychological harm. Trauma is real. Resilience is also real. And for most veterans, the second is the larger story.

This is not a reason to look away from suffering. It is a reason to lean in. Because growth, the research is clear, does not happen in isolation. It happens in connection.

Trauma is real. Resilience is also real. And for most veterans, the second is the larger story.

Why the Silence Is So Dangerous

Here is the hard part, and we’d be doing veterans a disservice to soften it.

The growth doesn’t arrive on its own. It needs conditions. And the single most corrosive condition for a wounded veteran is the one we described at the start — the silence that descends once the acute crisis has passed and everyone assumes the work is done.

A veteran leaving service often loses, all at once, the things that held a life together: the mission, the tribe, the rank that told the world who they were, the structure that ordered every waking hour. We tend to treat that as a logistics problem — find a job, get the benefits sorted, fill out the forms. But it is something far deeper. It is the loss of belonging. And no amount of paperwork fills that particular hole.

When we, the community, go quiet, we don’t just leave a veteran alone. We confirm the lie that trauma whispers: you are a burden, you are separate, the world has moved on without you. The silence after a crisis can be every bit as dangerous as the crisis itself, precisely because it is so easy to mistake for peace.

You are not powerless here. That silence is not inevitable. It is a choice we make, one quiet afternoon at a time — and it is a choice we can unmake.

What Community Can Actually Do

Communities do not cure PTSD. Let’s be honest about that. We are not therapists, and we should never pretend to be. What we can do is reshape the conditions in which healing becomes possible — and on that front, ordinary neighbors hold extraordinary power. Here’s the part that should hearten every one of us: the things that protect a struggling veteran most are not found in a clinic. They are purpose, connection, and belonging. We may not be able to treat an injury we can’t see — but we can offer the very things that, time and again, matter most. Here is what that looks like in practice.

Veterans gathered around the table at Mission BBQ, beneath a wall of those who served. Belonging gets rebuilt in ordinary afternoons like this one.

Tell the truth, and don’t look away. A veteran wrestling with trauma can spot condescension and pity from across the room, and wants neither. What helps is honesty without flinching — a friend who can hear something hard and stay in the room, who treats them as capable rather than fragile. You don’t need the perfect words. You need to be willing to stay when the conversation gets uncomfortable. Presence beats advice nearly every time.

Be patient with a road that doesn’t run straight. Healing is not a tidy upward line. It loops, stalls, doubles back. A good month does not mean the work is finished, and a bad week does not erase the progress. The people who matter most are the ones who stay through both — who understand that showing up on the hundredth ordinary Tuesday is worth more than showing up once for the emergency.

Presence beats advice nearly every time.

Give them something worth doing. Of everything that protects veterans, a sense of purpose may be the strongest force of all — and few things rebuild it faster than being needed again. Veterans served with a mission and a role; the loss of both is part of what makes coming home so hard. So hand one back. Ask them to lead the project, anchor the crew, mentor the newcomer, carry something real. Not busywork — genuine responsibility. Purpose isn’t a luxury in this work. It’s the medicine.

Make belonging a habit, not a one-time invitation. The most healing thing you can extend is rarely a referral. It’s a standing place at the table. Come to dinner — and come back next week. Join the work crew. Sit with us on Sunday. Belonging isn’t built in a single gesture; it’s built in the ordinary rhythm of being expected somewhere, again and again, until showing up stops feeling like a question. And if they decline the first time, ask again. The invitation itself is part of the medicine.

Be a bridge to help — not a substitute for it. This is where knowing our limits saves lives. Many veterans who are struggling are not connected to professional care, and a good number never have been. We can’t be their counselors, but we can be the trusted person who knows the number, who offers to make the call together, who drives them to that first appointment, and waits in the parking lot. Sometimes the most important thing a neighbor ever does is walk a veteran the last few steps toward the help they’ve been carrying alone.

A Word to Our Faith Communities

There is a finding in that veterans’ study we haven’t mentioned yet, and it speaks directly to those of us who gather in churches and parishes.

Among all the factors the researchers measured, a veteran’s intrinsic faith — a living, interior spiritual life — stood out twice over. It was among the qualities most strongly tied to post-traumatic growth. And, on its own, regular participation in religious life lowers the risk of suicidal thinking, depression, and problem drinking — which means a faith community is not only a place where veterans heal, but one of the few places shown to help keep them alive. This should not surprise us. Faith traditions have always known how to hold suffering without trying to explain it away, how to find meaning in the valley rather than only on the mountaintop. Scripture tells us to bear one another’s burdens, and that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for a friend. Veterans understand that second part in their bones. Our task is to live out the first.

A faith community offers something the clinic cannot: a place where a wounded person is known by name, expected each week, and folded into a story larger than their own pain. That is not a small thing. For a veteran who has lost their tribe, a congregation can become a new one. The pew next to yours may be the most important seat in the room.

From Standing Watch to Walking Alongside

So we return to where we began — to that silent kitchen on an ordinary Tuesday.

The watch we keep is not only for the night of the crisis. It extends into all the quiet days afterward, when the danger is invisible, and the temptation to look away is strongest. Standing watch teaches us to notice. The longer work asks something more of us: to stay. To move from noticing to accompanying. From prevention to belonging.

Community members and veterans on the SRQ Vets Memorial Day hike. The road home is long — and the point is that no one walks it alone.

Here in Azario, we made a commitment to our veterans, and a commitment is not a single act — it’s a posture we hold over years. We will keep training neighbors to recognize a veteran in crisis. We will also keep showing up on the hundredth Tuesday, because we now understand that both matter, and that the second is where resilience is quietly built.

The veterans among us are not broken. They are changed — and that change, given the right soil, can grow into a wisdom the rest of us would be lucky to learn from. Whether it grows depends, in no small part, on us. On whether we choose presence over distance, patience over urgency, and belonging over silence.

The watch continues. The question is whether we’ll stand it together.

The veteran mental health and resilience findings in this article are drawn from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (NHRVS) — the most comprehensive nationally representative, longitudinal study of U.S. veterans, conducted by the VA National Center for PTSD and Yale University under the direction of Dr. Robert H. Pietrzak. The post-traumatic growth figures track two waves of the study: an earlier cohort (reported in Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2020) and the most recent 2019–2020 cohort (Psychiatric Quarterly, 2023). Other figures reflect the 2019–2020 cohort, with follow-up through 2022.

Neighbors in Service is a community of veterans, military families, and those who support them. To learn how you can stand watch alongside us — through Watch Stander training, our community programs, or simply by showing up — reach out at info@neighborsinservice.org or visit neighborsinservice.org.

If you or a veteran you know is in crisis, the Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7. Dial 988, then press 1.

As summer begins, Neighbors in Service carries forward the work that defines us — to Educate, Strengthen, and Honor those who served. June is National PTSD Awareness Month, and it arrives on the heels of a Memorial Day weekend when our Azario community turned out in force. This month, we open with that awareness effort, walk through the events ahead — from Women Veterans Day to our NEW July flag tradition at the Azario entrances — look back at what we accomplished together, and close with the partnerships that keep our community standing watch for one another.

Share Neighbors in Service

Check the Team Reach Events Calendar for sign-ups and updates. Not yet on Team Reach? Join today using code AZNIS4VETS.

PTSD Awareness Month — June 2026

June is National PTSD Awareness Month, and June 27 is National PTSD Awareness Day. This month, we encourage our community to learn, share, and check in on those around us — especially our veterans and first responders who carry burdens that are not always visible.

Mark your calendar for June 27 — a PTSD Awareness Resource Fair is planned at the Bradenton Conference Center. Details to follow. Watch our Substack and Team Reach Events Calendar for updates as they are confirmed.

Local Support — NAMI Sarasota & Manatee Counties
NAMI runs ongoing support groups throughout June at locations in Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, and Venice. Groups include peer recovery, family support, and specialty programs. Find the full calendar and connect with their team at namisarasotamanatee.org or call (941) 376-9361.

VA Resources
The VA National Center for PTSD offers a free virtual awareness walk throughout June, plus a free PTSD self-screening tool at ptsd.va.gov. The Sarasota VA Outpatient Clinic is also a local point of contact — 4099 Cattlemen Rd, Sarasota | (941) 371-3349.

In Crisis or Need to Talk?
Call or text 988 — available 24/7.

Watch our Substack this month for NIS’s new article dedicated to PTSD Awareness, along with our inaugural article looking at the Fire Watch program and how our community showed up for suicide awareness.

Heroes Welcome Home — Volunteer Day, June 6

A great volunteer opportunity for Azarians! Heroes Welcome Home, in partnership with the REALTOR Association of Sarasota and Manatee Community Outreach Committee, is organizing a volunteer cleanup and repair day for a local veteran whose property was impacted following a neighboring house fire. During firefighting operations, portions of the fence were removed to provide access for emergency personnel, and the property has since fallen into disrepair.

Project focus: yard cleanup and debris removal, minor repairs, mailbox replacement, shed evaluation, and working with local officials toward fence replacement.

This volunteer day is a hands-on opportunity to make a real difference for a deserving veteran right here in our community. Volunteers are needed for yard work, debris removal, and pressure washing. Donations of materials, landscaping supplies, and financial contributions are also welcome.

To volunteer or donate:

• Call: (941) 720-2221

• Email: info@heroeswelcomehome.org

• Web: heroeswelcomehome.org

Restoring a home. Restoring pride. Restoring hope.

Women Veterans | Lakewood Ranch Library Series

The Lakewood Ranch Library has been offering a wonderful series spotlighting the stories and service of women veterans — and we are glad to be sharing it with our community.

May 15 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Celebrating Military Women 250: Extraordinary Stories of Brave and Valiant Women
The President of Women Veterans of the Suncoast shared stories of key women leaders who bravely served our country. We hope those who attended found it as inspiring as we did.

June 12 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Women Veterans Day
Lakewood Ranch Library — Auditorium (Meeting Room A+B)

The series continues with an inspiring lecture from the Vietnam War era, featuring a special guest. The program is inspired by Kristin Hannah’s powerful novel The Women, which honors the extraordinary service of women who served our country. Come early or stay late to connect with the Manatee County Veteran’s Services Office — a vital resource for veterans and their dependents accessing earned benefits and community referrals.

This event is open to adults (18+). Seats are limited — register here to reserve your spot.

Azario Flags | Celebrating July 4th

NIS will be organizing flags at our Azario entrances for Independence Day. We pay homage to Karen Hernandez and the Sunshine Committee, who placed flags on Memorial Day and July 4th in past years - watch video above. It is a simple, powerful way to honor our country and show our community’s pride.

We need volunteers for both shifts — please check YES in the Team Reach Events Calendar for the date(s) you are available:

• Placement: Friday, July 3

• Retrieval: Monday, July 6

You can sign up for one or both. Every volunteer makes this display possible, and we hope you will be part of it.

Not yet on Team Reach? Join today using code AZNIS4VETS to stay connected with NIS events, updates, and volunteer opportunities in the Azario community.

Thank You, Azario! SRQ Vets 11th Annual Memorial Hike

What an incredible showing from our Azario community. On May 23, we joined hundreds of our neighbors for the 11th Annual SRQ Vets Memorial Hike — and you showed up in a big way. Over 30 Azario residents participated, and the NIS table helped extend our reach and connect with even more members of the local veteran community.

A special thank-you to the Azario Run/Walk Club for their partnership and participation. Their involvement helped make our community presence at this event truly meaningful, and we look forward to continuing that collaboration at future events.

With roughly 500 people in attendance, this year’s hike was one to remember. It raised both funds and awareness for the vital work SRQ Vets does in support of local veterans. Most importantly, it gave our community a space to come together, honor the fallen, and reflect on the true meaning of Memorial Day.

To everyone from Azario who laced up their shoes and walked with us — thank you. Your presence made a difference.

Coming Soon: We are exploring a collaboration with the Azario Run/Walk Club to participate in a walk/run in support of Tunnel to Towers. Stay tuned for details.

Everyday Money for Veterans on Fixed Incomes

Over the past several months, the NIS mentor team worked closely with Manatee County Veteran Services to build a financial readiness program designed specifically for veterans and their families living on fixed incomes. Mentors attended VA benefits update sessions at the Lakewood Ranch Library. They met with county Veteran Services counselors to review key areas of support — disability compensation, pensions, health care, education benefits, home loans, and local financial assistance programs.

That preparation paid off. Our three-session pilot — held on May 14, 21, and 28 at the Manatee County Veterans Services Office in Bradenton — was a success. Instructors and mentors engaged a diverse group of veterans seeking real, practical guidance on everything from basic budgeting to managing the rising cost of essential expenses. Working alongside counselors from Manatee County Veteran Services, every participant had the opportunity to personally review their VA benefits and explore available services to help meet those challenges.

And the results were real. One veteran cut his car insurance bill in half. Another received a job offer from Mission BBQ. A third built a plan to pay down credit card debt. And one veteran’s thoughtful feedback, draft by draft, shaped an updated Survivor’s Benefits Guide — a resource that will now help families well beyond this pilot.

All participants received professionally designed worksheets with local contact information and resources to support follow-through. Veterans also had the opportunity to opt into our Partner Mentor Program — brief monthly check-ins over 3–6 months to help with problem-solving and follow-through.

What’s next: The next session will be held at the VA in February 2027. In the meantime, NIS is working with community partners to offer courses for veterans throughout the year — stay tuned for upcoming announcements.

Our mentor team was outstanding throughout this pilot. If you are interested in joining the mentor team and giving back to our veterans, military families, and first responders, we would love to hear from you. Reach out at drjack@neighborsinservice.org, or connect with us on Team Reach using code AZNIS4VETS.

Valdez Veterans Alliance Services (VVAS)

May brought a first-of-its-kind event to Azario — the inaugural golf tournament hosted by Valdez Veterans Alliance Services (VVAS), where 100 golfers came out for a beautiful day on the course. Proceeds are used to support local veterans and veteran support organizations. Neighbors in Service was proud to serve as a Hole Sponsor, and we look forward to seeing this tournament grow in the years ahead.

Looking ahead, mark your calendars for VVAS’s 4th Annual USMC Birthday Ball & Fundraiser — Saturday, November 14, 2026, 6:00 PM at the Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa. The evening honors service members and veterans from all branches of the service around the time-honored Marine Corps Birthday Ceremony, with dinner, auctions, a raffle, music, and dancing in support of Our Next Mission, which provides safe, accessible housing for disabled and at-risk veterans. Tickets are $350 per person — you can also gift one to a Marine — and sponsorships start at $1,000.

To learn more & get tickets · info@vvaservices.org · (941) 201-1070

Our Pillar Partners | Wreaths Across America & Folds of Honor

Two partnerships anchor how Neighbors in Service lives out its mission to Educate, Strengthen, and Honor — Wreaths Across America and Folds of Honor. Both welcome your support year-round.

Wreaths Across America

On December 19, 2026 — National Wreaths Across America Day — Neighbors in Service will lead the local effort to place remembrance wreaths at Mansion Memorial Park in Ellenton, where more than 1,700 veterans rest. Across Manatee County’s 49 private cemeteries, over 8,600 veterans are buried with no organized effort to honor them all — and we are changing that, starting at Mansion Memorial Park.

Each $17 wreath says: You are not forgotten. Sponsoring early helps us plan and grow toward our goal of 1,700 wreaths, and every wreath placed through our NIS page counts toward that local effort.

Sponsor a wreath through our NIS page: wreathsacrossamerica.org/FL0675P

Folds of Honor

Folds of Honor provides educational scholarships to the children and spouses of America’s fallen and disabled service members and first responders. In Florida alone this past year, 845 students received scholarships, while 7,700 qualified applicants nationwide went unfunded. NIS proudly stands with Folds of Honor, a 4-star Charity Navigator nonprofit, in supporting these families.

Support Folds of Honor through NIS: fundraise.givesmart.com/e/jyRPhw

NIS on Substack

Neighbors in Service is now on Substack, publishing monthly community updates (on the first of each month) and in-depth articles (mid-month) on topics that matter to our veterans, military families, first responders, and community supporters.

Our inaugural article spotlighted the Fire Watch program — including Azario’s own participation. This month’s article is dedicated to PTSD Awareness Month, with a focus on June 27, National PTSD Awareness Day.

Follow us on Substack so you do not miss a post.

Share Neighbors in Service

Neighbors in Service is a 501(c)(3) Florida Nonprofit — Educate · Strengthen · Honor
📧 info@neighborsinservice.org | 📱 Team Reach Code: AZNIS4VETS | 👍 facebook.com/neighborsInservice

Be the One Who Saves a Life

Every day, 17 veterans die by suicide in America. Florida loses approximately 500 veterans each year. But communities with trained Watch Standers see a 12% decrease in veteran suicides. That’s not just a statistic—that’s lives saved.

That’s why we’re bringing Watch Stander training to Azario.

🎯 INAUGURAL FIRE WATCH TRAINING
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 | 6:00 PM | Azario Venue
Goal: 50 Azario Residents Trained

What is a Watch Stander?

Think CPR for suicide prevention. You’ll learn to recognize when a veteran is in crisis and guide them to help using the VA SAVE method. No military experience needed—just willingness to learn skills that could save a life.

Register on NIS Team Reach Event Calendar

Building Something Historic for Our Veterans

This Wednesday, Manatee County breaks ground on Valor Commons—a Veterans Connection Hub and Memorial Campus featuring a Veterans Resource Center, memorial spaces, and community gathering areas.

🏘️ VALOR COMMONS GROUNDBREAKING
Wednesday, January 14, 2026 | 1:00 PM
5215 Buckeye Road, Palmetto
Carpooling from Wellness Center at 12:15 PM

Light lunch afterward to discuss how we can support this initiative long-term.

RSVP and carpooling details on NIS Team Reach Event Calendar

Your Voice Matters: Take the County’s 5-minute survey on veteran services
Survey: https://www.surveylegend.com/s/64em
Learn More:

https://valor-commons-manateegis.hub.arcgis.com

When Community Clubs Unite for Heroes

The Azario Italian Club launches their inaugural Pizza for a Cause, with 100% of profits benefiting the Tunnel to Towers Foundation—providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star families and specially-adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders.

🍕 PIZZA FOR A CAUSE
Thursday, January 29 | 4:00-8:00 PM
$30 = 2 Pizzas + Caesar Salad | Pickup/Delivery at Olive & Vine

Ordering information available on Team Reach

Great pizza, great cause, great community.

Get Connected

📱 All event details, registration, and participation information available on:
Neighbors in Service Team Reach
Access Code: AZNIS4VETS

Questions? Contact: Jack McGourty | drjack@neighborsinservice.org

New VA Report, Same Call to Action

This month, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs released its latest Veteran Suicide Report. The data reinforces what we shared in our January update—and why our community’s involvement continues to matter.

On average, 17 veterans die by suicide each day in the United States. In Florida, the veteran suicide rate remains over 10% higher than the national average, translating into hundreds of lives lost each year. These are not just statistics—they represent neighbors, families, and fellow residents in communities like ours.

🔗 View the VA Veteran Suicide Report:https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/data.asp

That’s why we’re continuing to bring Watch Stander training to Azario.

🎯 WATCH STANDER TRAININGTuesday, March 3, 2026 | 6:00 PM | Azario VenueGoal: 50 Azario Residents Trained

What is a Watch Stander?

Think CPR for suicide prevention. You’ll learn to recognize when a veteran may be in crisis and guide them to help using the VA SAVE method. No military or clinical experience needed—just a willingness to learn practical skills that can make a difference.

👉 Register on the NIS Team Reach Event Calendar

Building Something Historic for Our Veterans

Earlier in January, Valor Commons officially broke ground, marking an important milestone for veteran services in Manatee County. A number of Neighbors in Service members attended the January 14 ground-breaking ceremony, joining county leaders, veterans, and community partners to celebrate the launch of this long-envisioned project.

Located on a 24-acre site in north Manatee County, Valor Commons is being developed as a Veterans Connection Hub and Memorial Campus—a welcoming, centralized place where veterans and their families will be able to navigate services, find peer and caregiver support, gather for community events, and reflect in thoughtfully designed memorial spaces.

Project leaders shared that early-phase site work is already underway, focusing on core infrastructure such as utilities, parking, and initial memorial elements. The goal is to have some services available within approximately one year, with the full campus continuing to build out in phases. Long-term plans call for Valor Commons to transition into an independently operated nonprofit to ensure sustainability and community stewardship.

The strong turnout at the groundbreaking underscored the broad support behind this initiative. Neighbors in Service looks forward to continuing to engage with Valor Commons as the project progresses and to exploring ways our community can support its mission in the months ahead.

Your Voice Matters: Take the County’s 5-minute survey on veteran services.

Survey: https://www.surveylegend.com/s/64em

Learn More:

https://valor-commons-manateegis.hub.arcgis.com

When Community Clubs Unite for Heroes

The Azario Italian Club’s inaugural Pizza for a Cause was a terrific example of resident-led community impact. Organized and led by the Italian Club, the event raised $2,078 in support of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star families and specially adapted homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders.

Neighbors in Service was pleased to support the effort by helping promote the event across our club membership and broader community network, and to see such strong participation from residents in support of this important cause.

We join the Azario Italian Club in thanking the team at Olive & Vine for preparing the pizzas and Chris McDonald, Food & Beverage Director, for his continued support. We also extend appreciation to Joseph Bonanno, FDNY firefighter and Tunnel to Towers Ambassador, for being onsite and helping make the evening a success.

Most of all, we commend the Azario Italian Club committee for their leadership, dedication, and hard work in bringing this inaugural fundraiser to life. Grazie mille to everyone who helped make a difference.

As a reminder, Neighbors in Service stands ready to support and help promote Azario club initiatives focused on veterans, military families, and first responders. With so many philanthropic and community-minded efforts underway across Azario, we welcome opportunities to collaborate and help amplify resident-led impact.

Get Connected

📱 All event details, registration, and participation information are available on: Neighbors in Service Team ReachAccess Code: AZNIS4VETS

Upcoming highlights include:

• Watch Stander Training – March 3, 6:00 PM at the Azario Venue

• Ongoing opportunities to support veteran-, military family–, and first responder–focused initiatives across our community

If you are part of an Azario club or informal group planning an activity that supports veterans, military families, or first responders, Neighbors in Service is ready to help promote and support your efforts.

Questions or ideas?📧 Contact: Jack McGourty | drjack@neighborsinservice.org

Countdown to Our Inaugural Event

Tuesday, March 3, 2026 | 6:00 PM | Azario Venue

In just days, we come together for something truly important—Fire Watch Watch Stander Training, our inaugural Neighbors in Service event.

We’re expecting 30-40 Azario residents, and there’s still room for more. This one-hour training teaches you to recognize when a veteran is in crisis and guide them to help using the VA SAVE method. Think CPR for suicide prevention—practical skills that could save a life.

Why this matters: Florida loses approximately 500 veterans to suicide each year. Communities with trained Watch Standers see a 12% decrease in veteran suicides. That’s not just a number—that’s neighbors saved, families kept whole.

You’ll meet Brianne Brown, Air Force veteran and Fire Watch Regional Program Director, who will lead the training. No military experience needed—just willingness to be there for those who served.

Register on NIS Team Reach Event Calendar (Code: AZNIS4VETS)

New Partnership: SRQ VETS Memorial Hike

We’re proud to announce our partnership with SRQ VETS, a volunteer-led nonprofit where veterans help other veterans across Sarasota and Manatee counties. They provide transportation assistance, home modifications for disabled veterans, support in Veterans Court, and community programs that make real differences in veterans’ lives.

🏃 11th Annual Memorial Day 5K Hike
Saturday, May 23, 2026 | JD Hamel Park, Sarasota

This isn’t just a hike—it’s a community coming together to honor fallen heroes while raising funds to support local veterans. The route starts at JD Hamel Park, winds through downtown Sarasota and Main Street, then returns to the park for a cookout, music, and family activities.

Co-marketing with Azario Walk/Run Club: We’re encouraging large Azario family participation. Free for kids under 12 with paid adult. Registration includes event shirt, lunch, and beverage.

More details coming in April’s newsletter and on Team Reach.

Volunteer Opportunity: Dogs, Inc.

Dogs, Inc. transforms lives by providing highly trained service dogs to veterans—at no cost. Their extraordinary dogs offer veterans independence, confidence, and freedom, with lifetime support, food, and preventative veterinary care all included.

🐕 Palmetto Campus - Volunteers Needed NOW

We’re helping Dogs, Inc. recruit volunteers for their current Palmetto campus. Whether you can help with dog care, facility maintenance, events, or administrative support—every role matters in getting these life-changing service dogs to veterans who need them.

🏗️ Lakewood Ranch Campus - Opening Summer 2026

Dogs, Inc. is building a brand-new campus on LWR Boulevard between SR70 and SR64. Construction is underway, and volunteer applications will open when the facility is completed. We’ll keep you posted on timing.

Learn more: www.dogsinc.org
Express interest: Contact us or check Team Reach for volunteer info sessions

Financial Wellness Program Ready to Launch

In partnership with Manatee County Veterans Services, we’ve developed “Everyday Money for Veterans on Fixed Incomes”—a complete four-session program designed specifically for Manatee County veterans aged 60+ living on fixed incomes.

The Four Sessions:

1. Making the Most of What Comes In - Unclaimed VA benefits, income optimization

2. Stretching the Dollar - Practical cost-cutting strategies with local resources

3. Staying Out of Trouble - Credit protection, scam prevention, debt management

4. Building a Small Cushion - Emergency funds, simple savings approaches

Each session includes professionally designed PowerPoint presentations and take-home worksheets with Manatee County-specific contact information and resources.

🤝 Mentors Needed

We’re seeking volunteers for our Partner Mentor Program—brief monthly check-ins for 3-6 months with veterans who take the course. One concrete task per session. Complete privacy, no judgment, just neighbor-to-neighbor support.

Program launches this spring. If you have financial literacy, budgeting experience, or simply want to help veterans maintain stability, we’d love to talk with you.

Building Something Bigger

These four initiatives—Watch Stander training, SRQ VETS partnership, Dogs Inc. volunteering, and financial wellness—represent what we’re building: a comprehensive support network where veterans, military families, and first responders know their community has their back.

Manatee County is home to over 40,000 veterans. Through Neighbors in Service, we’re creating practical ways to serve them—one training, one hike, one volunteer shift, one mentoring conversation at a time.

Get Connected

📱 All event details, registration, and volunteer opportunities:
Neighbors in Service Team Reach
Access Code: AZNIS4VETS

Questions:
Jack McGourty | drjack@neighborsinservice.org

March 3rd Success: 37 Azarians Trained

Our inaugural event brought 37 Azarians together for Fire Watch Watch Stander suicide prevention training—5 veterans, military family members, and supportive neighbors committed to learning skills that could save lives.

Brianne Brown, an Air Force veteran and Regional Manager at The Fire Watch, led an exceptional 90-minute training session filled with enthusiastic participation, thoughtful questions, and powerful lived experiences shared by attendees. We walked away equipped to recognize when veterans are in crisis and connect them with life-saving resources.

🎯 BY THE NUMBERS
37 trained Watch Standers
5 veterans in attendance
90-minute intensive training
12% decrease in veteran suicides in communities with trained Watch Standers

Based on the strong turnout and engagement, we look forward to inviting Brianne back for future sessions. In the meantime, we’re developing many more opportunities to support veterans, military families, and first responders right here in Azario.

New Partnership: Operation Warrior Resolution

Neighbors in Service is partnering with Operation Warrior Resolution (OWR), a local nonprofit providing holistic mental health care to veterans and their families through innovative brain-based healing approaches.

Located at 17507 Waterline Rd in Bradenton, OWR offers Tactical Healing Retreats and comprehensive support services that address trauma at its root cause—in the brain. Their approach goes beyond traditional talk therapy to provide neurologically-focused healing for veterans dealing with PTSD, TBI, and other service-related mental health challenges.

🤝 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Fundraising & donor relations
Event planning & coordination
Landscaping & grounds maintenance
Kitchen support for retreat programs
Administrative assistance

Get Involved: Visit www.operationwarriorresolution.org and click “Volunteer.”
Questions? Call OWR at (941) 806-5722
When you register, let us know on Team Reach so we can coordinate Azario community support efforts.

Everyday Money for Veterans on Fixed Incomes

After months of development with Manatee County Veterans Services, we’re launching a three-session financial readiness pilot designed for veterans and their families living on fixed incomes.

Learn ways to combat the rising cost of everything on a fixed budget—unclaimed VA benefits, Manatee County-specific cost-cutting resources, credit protection, scam prevention, and emergency fund strategies that actually work.

📅 THREE MAY SESSIONS
Dates: May 14, May 21, May 28 (Thursdays)
Time: 11:00 AM to Noon
Location: Manatee County Veterans Services Office
1401 3rd Ave W., Bradenton
Cost: Free | Space: Limited!

All participants receive professionally designed worksheets with local contact information and resources.

REGISTER TODAY: Call (941) 745-3795

Mentors Needed: Following the program, veterans can opt into our Partner Mentor Program—15-20 minute monthly check-ins for 3-6 months. Interested? Contact drjack@neighborsinservice.org or express interest in Team Reach.

SRQ VETS Memorial Weekend 5K Hike

Neighbors in Service and the Azario Run/Walk Club invite you to honor fallen heroes at the SRQ VETS 11th Annual Memorial Weekend 5K Hike on Saturday, May 23rd.

This family-friendly event brings together veterans, families, and supporters from across Sarasota and Manatee Counties. The 5K starts at JD Hamel Park, winds through downtown Sarasota, then returns for a post-event celebration with food, music, and community. Proceeds support SRQ VETS’ emergency assistance for local veterans.

🏃 EVENT DETAILS
Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026
Location: JD Hamel Park, Sarasota
Register: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/srqvets/event/11thmemorialhike/

Azario Coordination: Already registered or planning to? Add a YES to Team Reach so we can coordinate carpooling and organize a casual lunch downtown for our group.

IMPORTANT! Join the Azario Run/Walk Club (Code: EARWC24) for Saturday adventures that always include a Toasted Gathering. Thanks to John D’Allegro, this club has flourished into a great way to stay active and connected.

Knights’ 3rd Annual Armed Forces Day Golf Tournament

The Knights of Columbus San Damiano Assembly hosts their third annual charity golf tournament at Tara Golf & Country Club on April 20th. Last year, raised over $22,000 for veteran organizations with 117 golfers—this year will be bigger and better, with a maximum of 128 golfers.

100% of proceeds support veteran organizations, including The Fire Watch, Operation Warrior Resolution, Dogs Inc., Tunnel to Towers, Turning Points, and this year’s new honoree: Homes for Our Troops—building mortgage-free, specially adapted homes for severely injured post-9/11 veterans.

⛳ TOURNAMENT DETAILS
Date: Monday, April 20, 2026
Location: Tara Golf & Country Club
Registration Closes: Wednesday, April 15
Includes: 18 holes, dinner, awards, putting contest, 50/50 raffle, silent auction

Register, Sponsor, or Dinner Only: https://www.knights3192.org/
This event will sell out—register your foursome, purchase a sponsorship, or become a tee sponsor today.

NIS Joins Manatee County Veterans Council

Neighbors in Service has been accepted as a member of the Manatee County Veterans Council—a coalition of veteran service organizations coordinating support for 40,000+ veterans in Manatee County.

This membership means better coordination among VSOs, unified advocacy at the county level, a direct volunteer pipeline to partner organizations, and real-time information on new programs and resources.

🤝 WHAT THIS MEANS
Better referrals when veterans need help
Azario's representation in county-level advocacy
More volunteer opportunities identified
Faster access to new benefits and programs

This formalizes what we’ve been building—a comprehensive support network where veterans know their community is coordinated, connected, and committed.

Get Connected

📱 All event details, registration, and volunteer opportunities:
Neighbors in Service Team Reach
Access Code: AZNIS4VETS

Questions? Jack McGourty | drjack@neighborsinservice.org

In 2023, 622 Florida veterans died by suicide. That’s not a statistic that fades with time—it’s a reality that echoes through families, communities, and the lives of those who served alongside them. The rate of veteran suicide in Florida is more than twice the civilian rate, a sobering disparity that demands not resignation, but action.

Yet here’s what’s remarkable: The Fire Watch has trained over 12,447 Watch Standers across Florida—ordinary community members equipped with the skills to recognize and respond to veterans in crisis. In regions where these trained Watch Standers are concentrated, the impact is undeniable: Northeast Florida has documented a 26% reduction in veteran suicides from 2019 to 2025, compared to a 10% statewide reduction over the same period. Prevention isn’t theoretical. It’s measurable. It’s real.

This is the story of The Fire Watch, the Watch Stander training program, and how Neighbors in Service is bringing this life-saving intervention into Azario and beyond.

THE CRISIS: NUMBERS WITH FACES BEHIND THEM

Before we talk solutions, we need to understand what we’re facing. Veterans comprise 7.7% of Florida’s population, yet they account for a wildly disproportionate share of the state’s suicides. The disparity isn’t new, but it’s accelerating in unexpected ways.

From 2022 to 2023, younger veterans (ages 18-34) showed a dramatic and encouraging decline in suicide rates. But simultaneously, middle-aged veterans (35-54) saw an upturn—a pattern that runs counter to what’s happening in the civilian population. This divergence matters because it tells us veteran suicide isn’t following predictable demographic curves. The unique stressors of military service shape it, the challenges of transition, and the persistent struggle to find meaning after the uniform comes off.

In Manatee County, the picture is particularly acute. We’ve experienced one of the largest increases in veteran suicides since 2019. These aren’t abstract numbers. They’re neighbors. They’re first responders. They’re people who answered the call to serve, and now they’re struggling in isolation while the rest of us move through our daily lives unaware.

The question isn’t whether we can afford to respond. It’s whether we can afford not to.

WHO IS THE FIRE WATCH? AN ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO “TURNING THE CURVE”

The Fire Watch is a Florida-based 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to ending veteran suicide through evidence-based community intervention. Founded on the premise that suicide prevention isn’t solely the work of clinical professionals, The Fire Watch has built an innovative model: equip ordinary community members with skills to identify veterans in crisis and connect them to professional help.

Their approach rests on a simple but transformative insight: most veterans don’t die by suicide without warning. They show signs—changes in behavior, withdrawal from community, expressions of hopelessness. But those signs are often missed because the people around them don’t know what they’re looking for.

To date, The Fire Watch has trained over 12,447 Watch Standers across Florida—an expanding network of trained community members, veterans, faith leaders, and neighbors. These trained Watch Standers are projected to generate approximately 14,936 veteran referrals to professional resources over the next 12 months, connecting struggling veterans with the mental health and crisis support services they need.

The impact is measurable and compelling. In Northeast Florida, where Watch Standers are most concentrated, veteran suicides have declined 26% from 2019 to 2025—significantly outpacing the 10% statewide reduction over the same period. This disparity tells us something vital: training and community readiness matter profoundly. The more Watch Standers you have, the more lives you save.

WHAT IS WATCH STANDER TRAINING? CPR FOR VETERAN MENTAL HEALTH

Imagine CPR training for physical emergencies. You learn to recognize the signs of cardiac arrest, you practice the technique, and suddenly you’re equipped to intervene in a moment that could determine whether someone lives or dies. Watch Stander training operates on the identical principle—but for mental health crises.

The training is remarkably efficient: one hour. In that hour, participants learn to recognize warning signs that a veteran may be in crisis—withdrawal, increased substance use, expressions of hopelessness, isolation from community, reckless behavior. They practice engaging compassionately, asking direct questions without judgment. And they learn how to connect struggling veterans to professional resources: crisis hotlines, mental health professionals, peer support networks, and emergency services.

The beauty of Watch Stander training is its accessibility. You don’t need a clinical background. You don’t need to be a veteran yourself. You might be a spouse, a community member, a coworker, a faith leader, or a neighbor. What matters is your willingness to pay attention and your commitment to act when you notice someone struggling.

The training is also honest about its limits. Watch Standers aren’t therapists. They’re not replacing professional care. Rather, they’re the connective tissue—the first responder to a mental health emergency, the person who notices and intervenes before crisis becomes tragedy.

OUR COMMUNITY RESPONSE: FROM ASSEMBLY TO NEIGHBORHOOD

In San Damiano Assembly 3192, something historic unfolded over 55 Sir Knights and their spouses completed Watch Stander training, making San Damiano the first Knights of Columbus Assembly in Florida to achieve Veteran Safe Place Certification—official recognition that the organization has trained sufficient members to become a recognized resource for veterans in crisis.

This achievement reflects a deliberate choice by Assembly leadership to live out the Fourth Degree commitment to patriotism and service. Among the Assembly’s 100+ veterans, trained Watch Standers now walk the halls. At meetings, at charitable events, at moments of vulnerability, Sir Knights are equipped to recognize distress and respond with both compassion and concrete support.

But the work couldn’t stop at the Assembly doors.

On March 3rd, 2026, Neighbors in Service hosted its inaugural Watch Stander training event in Azario. Brianne Brown—an Air Force veteran and Regional Program Manager for The Fire Watch—led an intensive 90-minute session that brought together 37 Azarians: five veterans, military family members, and supportive community neighbors. The energy in the room reflected something powerful: ordinary people choosing to become extraordinary first responders to veteran mental health crises.

The training was filled with enthusiastic participation, thoughtful questions, and powerful lived experiences shared by attendees. People walked away equipped not with theory, but with concrete skills—how to recognize when a veteran is in crisis, how to engage with compassion and directness, how to connect struggling veterans with life-saving resources.

Thirty-seven trained Watch Standers now live in Azario. They know their neighbors. They understand the stakes. And they’ve committed to paying attention in ways that could fundamentally alter the trajectory of someone’s life.

Recognizing the momentum from that inaugural success, Neighbors in Service is planning the next Watch Stander cohort for Fall 2026. The goal is clear: expand the network of trained, vigilant community members who understand that standing watch for veterans is everyone’s responsibility.

WHAT YOU CAN DO—CONNECTING VETERANS TO SUPPORT

If this resonates, if you’re recognizing the weight of veteran suicide in your own circles, there are concrete ways to engage:

Get trained. Watch Stander training is coming to Azario again in Fall 2026. Whether you’re a veteran, a military family member, a first responder, or a community supporter, the training equips you with specific, actionable skills. Attend. Learn. Become part of the solution.

Look around your own circles. You likely know veterans. You probably know first responders. You may know military families navigating the unique challenges of service-connected life. Watch for changes—withdrawal, increased substance use, recklessness, expressions of hopelessness. These aren’t violations of privacy; they’re signs of distress. Intervening with care and directness can be the moment that changes everything.

Know the resources—and share them. If you notice a veteran in crisis, your next step is to connect them to professional support. The Veterans Crisis Line (call or text 988, then press 1) provides 24/7, confidential support to veterans and their families at no cost. This is a national resource backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs—a direct lifeline to trained counselors who understand military culture and the specific challenges veterans face.

Beyond crisis intervention, the VA offers comprehensive mental health services to eligible veterans: therapy, medication management, peer support groups, and specialized programs for trauma, substance use, and suicide prevention. If you’re a veteran or know one, visit VA.gov or call the VA benefits hotline at 1-800-827-1000 to explore eligibility and services.

For immediate support outside crisis hours, local resources include the Manatee County Veterans Services Office (941-745-3795), which can navigate you toward VA benefits, mental health resources, and community support networks.

Support those who stand watch. Watch Standers can’t do this alone. They need communities that understand their role and reinforce their efforts. When you encounter someone who’s completed the training, acknowledge their commitment. Ask how you can support their work.

FROM CRISIS TO COMMUNITY ACTION

The statistic with which we began—622 Florida veterans lost to suicide in 2023—represents an enormous, ongoing tragedy. But it’s not destiny. In counties where Watch Standers are trained and active, the curve is bending downward. Communities are turning the tide.

That transformation doesn’t happen through policy alone or professional intervention alone. It happens when ordinary people—Sir Knights in an Assembly, neighbors in a community, coworkers in a workplace—decide that veteran suicide is not someone else’s problem. It’s ours.

We invited you into this story not to overwhelm you with statistics, but to empower you with possibility. Every trained Watch Stander represents a potential lifeline. Every person who notices a veteran struggling represents an opportunity for intervention. Every community that embraces this responsibility moves closer to a world where fewer veterans die by suicide, and more find their way back to belonging.

Neighbors in Service believes that standing watch for veterans is standing watch for ourselves—for the integrity of our community and the values we claim to hold. That commitment begins with attention, deepens through training, and manifests in the concrete act of showing up when someone is struggling.

The question isn’t whether we can prevent veteran suicide. The data from Watch Stander counties tells us we can. The question is whether we’ll choose to.

Learn more about Watch Stander training and upcoming Azario cohorts. Fall 2026 registration details coming soon.

Resources:
Veterans Crisis Line: 988, then press 1 (24/7, confidential)
VA Mental Health Services: VA.gov or 1-800-827-1000
Manatee County Veterans Services: 941-745-3795

As we approach Memorial Day weekend, Neighbors in Service honors those who gave all while supporting those who gave some. This month brings our Everyday Money pilot, the SRQ VETS Memorial 5K, and plans for a new Wreaths Across America tradition at Mansion Memorial Park.

Everyday Money for Veterans on Fixed Incomes

As we get ready to launch Everyday Money for Veterans on Fixed Incomes, our mentor team has been working closely with Manatee County Veteran Services to better understand the benefits and supports already available to local veterans. Over the past several weeks, our mentors attended VA benefits update sessions at the Lakewood Ranch Library and met with county Veteran Services counselors to review the major areas of support, including disability compensation, pensions, health care, education benefits, home loans, and local financial assistance programs.

Building on this preparation, we are launching a three-session financial readiness pilot designed specifically for veterans and their families living on fixed incomes. Participants will explore practical ways to combat the rising cost of everything on a fixed budget, including uncovering unclaimed VA benefits, using Manatee County–specific cost-cutting resources, protecting credit, preventing scams, and building an emergency fund that actually works for real-life situations.

📅 Three May Sessions

Dates: May 14, May 21, May 28 (Thursdays)Time: 11:00 AM – Noon

Location: Manatee County Veterans Services Office, 1401 3rd Ave W., Bradenton

Cost: Free | Space: Limited

All participants receive professionally designed worksheets with local contact information and resources to make follow-up easier and more effective. REGISTER TODAY: Call (941) 745-3795.

Following the program, veterans can opt into our Partner Mentor Program—brief 15–20 minute monthly check-ins for 3–6 months to support follow-through and problem-solving.

Mentors are needed for this ongoing support. If you’re interested, contact drjack@neighborsinservice.org or express interest on Team Reach.

SRQ VETS Memorial Weekend 5K Hike

Neighbors in Service and the Azario Run/Walk Club invite you to honor fallen heroes at the SRQ VETS 11th Annual Memorial Weekend 5K Hike on Saturday, May 23, 2026. This special Memorial Weekend tradition is a powerful way to remember those who have fallen for our freedoms while standing alongside local veterans, families, and supporters from across Sarasota and Manatee Counties.

The 5K starts at JD Hamel Park on the Sarasota bayfront, winds through downtown, and returns to the park for a post-event celebration with food, music, and community. Proceeds support SRQ VETS’ emergency assistance for local veterans, helping meet urgent needs such as housing, utilities, and basic living expenses.

This year, more than 25 Azarians have already signed up to hike together, and there is still time to join in. If you are already registered or planning to register, please add a YES on Team Reach so we can keep you updated on carpooling plans and a casual post-hike gathering at Marina Jack’s. This will be a great way to finish the morning together and connect as a community.

🏃 Event Details

Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026

Location: JD Hamel Park, Sarasota

Register: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/srqvets/event/11thmemorialhike/

Azario Coordination

Already registered or planning to? Add a YES to Team Reach so we can:

• Coordinate carpooling from Azario

• Walk as a visible, supportive group

• Organize a casual lunch downtown after the hike

Highlight: Neighbors in Service Table

Neighbors in Service will host an information table at the event, sharing details about our current and upcoming programs for veterans and families. Be sure to stop by, say hello, and pick up information to share with friends and neighbors.

Join the Azario Run/Walk Club

IMPORTANT: Join the Azario Run/Walk Club (Code: EARWC24) for Saturday adventures that always end with a “Toasted Gathering.” Thanks to John D’Allegro’s leadership, this club has flourished into a great way to stay active, meet neighbors, and support local causes like SRQ VETS.

Celebrating Military Women 250 | LWR Library

The Lakewood Ranch Library hosts “Celebrating Military Women 250: Extraordinary Stories of Brave and Valiant Women” on Friday, May 15th, 11 AM–Noon. The President of Women Veterans of the Suncoast will share stories of key women leaders who bravely served our country. Registration required (63 seats available). Register at the LWR Library or online - https://manateelibrary.libcal.com/event/16369044

Knights of Columbus 3rd Annual Armed Forces Day Golf Tournament

The 3rd Annual Armed Forces Day Charity Golf Tournament is in the books — and Azario showed up in a big way.

On Monday, April 20, the Knights of Columbus San Damiano Assembly hosted their third annual charity golf tournament at Tara Golf & Country Club, with a full field of 128 golfers and a sold-out evening dinner program. Building on last year’s success, when the event raised more than $22,000 for veteran organizations with 117 golfers, this year’s tournament continued the tradition of golf, camaraderie, and gratitude for those who served.

Tentative results, pending final review, show this year’s event raised approximately $36,000—a significant increase over last year and a testament to growing community support.

What makes this event special is its impact: 100% of proceeds support veteran organizations, including The Fire Watch, Operation Warrior Resolution, Dogs Inc., Tunnel to Towers, Turning Points, and this year’s new honoree, Homes For Our Troops—an organization that builds mortgage-free, specially adapted homes for severely injured post‑9/11 veterans. Every foursome, raffle ticket, and sponsorship helped fuel this mission.

Azario was strongly represented, with more than 65 Azarians participating in the tournament and the post‑event dinner, raffles, and awards. Alongside our community golfers, we were honored to host two veteran foursomes representing The Fire Watch, Manatee County Veterans Services, and PGA HOPE—including Brianne Brown, who led the Azario Watch Stander Training this past March (and will return in Fall 2026), and our own Rob Garcia, US Marine and PGA HOPE golf instructor. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force were all represented on the same fairway in support of Homes For Our Troops.

From the opening tee shot to the final raffle, this tournament showcased what happens when faith, community, and gratitude for service come together. The Knights of Columbus San Damiano Assembly, their sponsors, and our Azario neighbors helped turn a day of golf into real, tangible support for veterans and their families.

Steel Across America | Sarasota Stop

Steel Across America | Sarasota Stop A steel beam recovered from the World Trade Center South Tower is traveling the country ahead of the 25th anniversary of 9/11, and it’s making a stop in Sarasota on Tuesday, May 19th at 6 PM (Emma E. Booker Elementary, 2350 Dr. MLK Way). Tunnel to Towers—a former honoree of the Knights of Columbus Armed Forces Day Golf Tournament—is bringing this powerful tribute to our community in remembrance. RSVP: steel25@t2t.org

Watch the story:

Never forget.

2026 Giving Challenge: Honoring Our Veteran Service Partners

The three veteran-focused organizations we highlighted during the 2026 Sarasota Giving Challenge demonstrated the power of community support and delivered outstanding results. Dogs, Inc. led the way, raising $140,246 from 377 generous donors, boosted by $29,972 in Patterson Foundation matching funds, for a final total of $170,218. This exceptional performance placed Dogs, Inc. in 9th place overall among all 751 participating nonprofits, showcasing the community’s deep commitment to their mission of providing service dogs to veterans and first responders.

Operation Warrior Resolution and SRQ VETS both demonstrated strong grassroots support from the veteran community and beyond. Operation Warrior Resolution raised $10,650 from 82 dedicated donors, receiving $7,100 in matching funds for a final total of $17,750, placing them 273rd overall. SRQ VETS engaged 56 supporters who contributed $8,575, which grew to $12,250 with $3,675 in matching funds, ranking 387th among participants. Combined, these three partner organizations raised $159,471 before matching and secured a combined final total of $200,218 to support veterans across our region.

Together, our highlighted partnerships mobilized 515 individual donors who recognized the critical importance of supporting those who have served our country. Their generosity during this 24-hour giving event will provide unrestricted funding that these organizations can use to meet their most pressing needs—whether that’s training more service dogs, providing mental health resources, or connecting veterans with essential community support.

Thank you to every Neighbors in Service member who donated. Your support during the 24-hour Giving Challenge demonstrated that Azario stands behind organizations serving our veterans.

New National Partnership | Wreaths Across America

A Vision Worth Sharing

When most people think of honoring veterans with a wreath on National Wreaths Across America Day, their minds go to places like Sarasota National Cemetery — and rightfully so. That’s sacred ground. Roughly 24,600 veterans rest there, and they will be honored.

But here’s something worth pausing on.

Across Manatee County, there are 49 private cemeteries where veterans have been laid to rest — buried near family, in their hometowns, in the communities they came home to protect. Records document more than 8,600 veterans across those grounds, and the real number is almost certainly higher.

Heroic wreath efforts happen across our region, and we honor every one of them. But a coordinated, county-wide effort to ensure every veteran in Manatee’s private hometown cemeteries is remembered — that doesn’t exist yet. Neighbors in Service aims to change that.

Because many of our veterans didn’t choose a national cemetery. They chose the cemetery where their mother is buried. Where their father rests. Where their family will one day gather together. They served for all of us — and they came home to us.

This December, we start where we’re planting our flag first:

Mansion Memorial Park in Ellenton, Florida, where more than 1,700 veterans rest, is minutes from our own community.

One cemetery. One community. One wreath at a time.

We’re grateful that early donors have already given this effort a strong start. Honoring all 1,700 veterans at Mansion Memorial Park will take all of us.

How can you help?

Starting on Memorial Day Weekend, sponsor wreaths ($17 each) through our Wreaths Across America partnership.

Follow facebook.com/neighborsInservice

Join Team Reach: AZNIS4VETS

Wreath sponsorship details will be available Memorial Day Weekend.

Stay Connected with Neighbors in Service

WE’RE ON FACEBOOK!

Neighbors in Service just launched our Facebook page at facebook.com/neighborsInservice—and we need your help building this community.

Why this matters: Facebook helps us reach beyond Azario to connect with veterans, military families, and supporters across Manatee County. It’s where we’ll share real-time updates, event photos, and ways to get involved.

Follow the page, share our posts, tag veteran friends who might benefit from our programs. The larger our reach, the more veterans we can serve.

We’ll continue posting on Azario Team Reach, neighborhood Facebook pages, and WhatsApp—think of the NIS page as one more way to amplify our mission.

📱 All event details, registration, and volunteer opportunities: Neighbors in Service Team Reach Access Code: AZNIS4VETS

Questions? Jack McGourty | drjack@neighborsinservice.org

As we approach Memorial Day, we continue to build on April’s momentum—Everyday Money launches, SRQ VETS Memorial 5K fills with Azarians, Wreaths planning ramps up, and veterans’ voices stay front and center across our community. This is what shared commitment looks like.

Neighbors in Service is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 33‑1691201).

As we approach Memorial Day weekend, Neighbors in Service honors fallen heroes while supporting the veterans, military families, and first responders who continue to serve our community. This sacred day of remembrance calls us not only to pause and reflect, but to act—ensuring that the sacrifice of our nation’s heroes translates into lasting support for those who protect and serve.

Neighbors in Service launched in January 2026, and we’re approaching our first six months. From vision to action: we’ve trained 37 Azarians in suicide prevention, launched our Everyday Money financial wellness program for veterans on fixed incomes, joined the Manatee County Veterans Council, and supported several veteran service organizations with volunteers and donations—including Dogs Inc, Homes for Our Troops, Manatee County Veterans Services, Operation Warrior Resolution, and SRQ VETS.

This Memorial Day, we focus on two flagship partnerships that embody our mission to honor sacrifice through remembrance and education: Wreaths Across America and Folds of Honor. Both offer tangible ways to turn gratitude into action—to ensure those who made the ultimate sacrifice are never forgotten, and those they left behind always have our support.

May 2026 Community Update: For our calendar of events and program details, visit https://shorturl.at/aLQid

Neighbors in Service operates through three pillars: Educate (equipping veterans, military families, and first responders with practical tools and mentoring), Strengthen (helping veteran-serving organizations grow their capacity and impact), and Honor (ensuring the service and sacrifice of our nation’s heroes are never forgotten). Our two flagship partnerships—Wreaths Across America and Folds of Honor—exemplify this mission, translating remembrance into tangible support for those who served and the families they left behind.

Remember · Honor · Teach

On December 19, 2026, National Wreaths Across America Day, communities across the country will gather at cemeteries to place wreaths on veterans’ graves—a coordinated moment of remembrance and gratitude. Neighbors in Service has partnered with Wreaths Across America to ensure that local heroes resting in Manatee County are honored.

More than 1,700 veterans rest at Mansion Memorial Park in Ellenton, just minutes from Azario. Across Manatee County’s 49 private cemeteries, over 8,600 documented veterans are buried—many choosing hometown cemeteries to rest near family, in the communities they came home to protect. Unlike the coordinated efforts at national cemeteries, there is no organized initiative to honor every veteran in Manatee’s private hometown cemeteries. Neighbors in Service is changing that, starting with Mansion Memorial Park.

Memorial Day honors the fallen. Wreaths Across America ensures they are remembered year-round. This Memorial Day Weekend, you can sponsor a wreath ($17 each) to be placed on a veteran’s grave this December—a simple act of remembrance that says, “You are not forgotten.”

Sponsor a wreath: www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/FL0675P or use the QR code below.

Honor Their Sacrifice. Educate Their Legacy.

Folds of Honor provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled military service members and first responders. Since its founding in 2007 by Lt Col Dan Rooney, Folds of Honor has awarded 73,000 scholarships nationwide with a total educational impact of $340 million. The folded flag—presented to families of the fallen—serves as a constant reminder of those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

Memorial Day reminds us that freedom isn’t free. The families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice continue to face real challenges. Education opens doors to opportunity, but too many deserving families can’t afford it. In Florida alone, 845 scholarships were awarded during the 2025-2026 academic year totaling $3.9 million—yet nationwide, 7,700 qualified applicants went unfunded.

When we support Folds of Honor, we invest in the futures of those left behind. We honor fallen heroes by ensuring their children have access to the educational opportunities their parents fought to protect. This Memorial Day, your donation provides scholarships that transform lives and honor legacies.

Donate to provide educational scholarships: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/e/jyRPhw?vid=1q1nm4 or use the QR code below.

Remember · Honor · Serve

Remember. This Memorial Day weekend, pause to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Attend memorial services. Teach children why we remember. Hold their sacrifice sacred.

Honor. Turn remembrance into action. Sponsor a wreath for Wreaths Across America. Donate to Folds of Honor scholarships. Support the organizations serving those who served. Let gratitude become service.

Serve. Join Neighbors in Service as we build a community that never forgets and never stops serving. Because those who gave all deserve communities that give back—not just on Memorial Day, but every day.

Never forget means never stop serving.

CONTACT & DONATE:

Wreaths Across America: www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/FL0675P

Folds of Honor: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/e/jyRPhw?vid=1q1nm4

May 2026 Community Update: For our calendar of events and program details, visit https://shorturl.at/aLQid

Neighbors in Service
📧 info@neighborsinservice.org 📱 Team Reach Code: AZNIS4VETS
👍 facebook.com/neighborsInservice

Neighbors in Service is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 33-1691201)