April 21, 2025

HERE TOMORROW GATHERS TO HONOR FALLEN FIRST RESPONDERS, MILITARY ABOARD USS ORLECK

NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. – Suicide prevention nonprofit Here Tomorrow hosts its third-annual Gather to Honor memorial event aboard the USS Orleck on Saturday, April 26 from 11 am-1:30 pm.

Held each spring, Gather to Honor pays tribute to veterans, active-duty military and first responders who have died by suicide, as well as those recovering from hopeless or suicidal thoughts.

Veterans represented 6.2% of the U.S. adult population and 15.4% of U.S. adult suicides in 2022, based on the National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report. Likewise, the suicide rate among Florida first responders is more than twice that of working-age Floridians, according to the Florida Department of Children and Families.

The Here Tomorrow military & first responder program launched in October 2022, serving more than 175 individuals who’ve served our country and community. Certified Recovery Peer Specialists at Here Tomorrow, who have lived experience overcoming suicidal ideation, are available to assist individuals in crisis 365 days a year, including this Saturday.

“Join us to honor the strength and resilience of our heroes – military, veterans, and first responders – who have faced the darkest battles and chosen to keep fighting,” says Here Tomorrow peer and ex-paramedic Jessi Garrison. “Your support shows them that they’re never alone.”

Gather to Honor speakers will include former Atlantic Beach Police Sergeant Brannon Hicks, who now manages the Here Tomorrow military & first responder program, as well as Sophros Recovery CEO Nick Padlo, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Afghanistan and Iraq. Media interviews will be conducted beginning Saturday at 10:15 am.

The USS Orleck is docked at 610 East Bay Street in Downtown Jacksonville. Attendees can enjoy a free lunch from Mission BBQ and a complimentary tour of the Jacksonville Naval Museum (Home of the USS Orleck).

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Media Contact

Mariel Acosta: 703-565-4464, Mariel.Acosta@heretomorrow.org

About Here Tomorrow

The mission of Here Tomorrow is to transform lives by building a community where suicide prevention is accessible without barriers. Here Tomorrow’s Certified Recovery Peer Specialists have supported more than 2,300 individuals in crisis at no cost and with no wait. All Here Tomorrow services are no cost through an entire year for friends (those feeling hopeless or suicidal) and family (those concerned for a loved one). Here Tomorrow is open 365 days a year at 910 3rd Street in Neptune Beach and 904-372-9087.