CHARLOTTE — U.S. flags at half-staff on Memorial Day to honor the millions of men and women who died while serving the country.
“It’s Memorial Day,” U.S. Army veteran Nick Armendariz said. “It’s kind of a sober day. You know, it’s time to reflect, time to honor those buddies that we’ve lost. We all grieve in our own way. I live every day for those buddies we had lost.”
Armendariz, who served from 2006 to 2012, said three soldiers were killed in action in his unit.
[Memorial Day: Thousands across the Carolinas pay tribute to those lost]
“We’ve had several suicides to date and since the Operation Resiliency retreat in 2019, I can tell you that having reestablished that bond, we haven’t had any suicides since then,” he said.
>> Remember, you can watch our radar/newscasts anytime at home on Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV
Armendariz, of Charlotte, was part of the first group to go through Operation Resiliency in 2019.
The Independence Fund operates the program that brings military units together from across the country.
>> In the video at the top of this webpage, learn more about Operation Resiliency and its impact on veterans.
If you’re a veteran in crisis or are concerned about one, please call the Veterans Crisis Line: 800-273-8255.
This browser does not support the video element.