This morning on our radio show, the airwaves carried a powerful message of urgency, compassion, and action as local advocates confronted a growing national tragedy: the rising rate of veteran suicides. Guests Greg Beck, Suzy Kroll, and Brother Cornbread (Greg Sutton) joined the broadcast to speak from the heart and call on the Texarkana community to step up.
Each day, more than 20 veterans in the United States die by suicide — a heartbreaking statistic that continues to climb despite years of awareness efforts and policy promises.
“We’re losing more heroes at home than we ever did in combat,” said Greg Beck, President of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 278. “And that ought to shake every one of us awake.”
Suzy Kroll, founder of Ben’s Heart Ministry and mother of the late Ben Kroll, knows that pain firsthand. “A simple conversation can change a life,” she said. “Reach out. Talk to the veterans in your life. They need to know they’re not forgotten.”
Brother Cornbread — Vietnam veteran, chaplain for Ben’s Heart Ministry, and a well-known voice of support in the veteran community — added: “These men and women gave everything for us. It’s not enough to say ‘thank you.’ We’ve got to show up. We’ve got to do better.”
The discussion centered not just on awareness, but on solutions — from directing listeners to the Veterans Crisis Line (988, then press 1) to encouraging participation in local peer support groups and volunteer efforts.
A major focus of the conversation was bringing younger veterans into leadership roles within organizations like the VFW. “These younger vets — they don’t talk, and that silence can be deadly,” said Beck. “We want to see them not just join, but take over. The future of veteran care depends on it.”
“We’ve got a bunch of old men around here who will run into the fire to pull you out,” Cornbread added. “If you or a veteran you love is struggling, don’t wait. Reach out.”
The group made it clear: while the VA may offer benefits, it’s often veteran-led groups like the VFW that provide the brotherhood, boots-on-the-ground support, and real healing many veterans need.
To hear the full segment and learn how to get involved, visit KTFSRADIO.com.
