Hundereds of people gathered for Veterans Day at Cambier Park on Monday to honor the men and women who have served in the military. The event, organized by the Collier County Veterans Council, brought together dozens of veterans and their families as the community paid tribute.
Retired service members shared stories of their time in the military and reflected on the ongoing challenges veterans face after service.
“It’s still an active fight, it’s not a passive fight,” said Alexander Leoni, a retired U.S. Marine Corps sergeant.
Watch below to hear from local veterans:
Collier County honors veterans with tribute at Cambier Park
Leoni shared a personal story about a friend who took his own life last year, highlighting the struggles many veterans face, even in Collier County.
According to national data from 2021, suicide was the 13th-leading cause of death for veterans overall, and the second-leading cause of death among veterans under age 45-years-old.
“The largest problem that the veteran community faces is isolation,” Leoni explained. “Through isolation comes depression, anxiety; the PTSD is always there. It kicks in. It leads people down a dark path.”