ORLANDO, Fla. – The roar of nearly 300 motorcycles echoed through Lee Road Wednesday morning as veterans and supporters gathered for the 7th Annual “Ride to End Suicide.”
Organized by the Florida American Legion Riders, the event aims to raise awareness and funds for veteran suicide prevention at a time when federal support systems are being scaled back.
The ride, which started at the American Legion Department Headquarters in Orlando, is part of a statewide effort supporting PROJECT: VetRelief, a program that provides mental health services and outreach for veterans struggling with suicidal thoughts.
For Erin Lightner, the cause is deeply personal.
“My husband is a three-time attempted suicide veteran. When we met, he was active duty. He struggled with severe alcoholism. His plan was to drive into a concrete bridge. Thankfully, the police intervened and he survived,” she said.
Now, she and her husband ride with purpose.
“The American Legion became our family. Riding is our wind therapy and doing it for a cause makes it all worth it.”
The ride unites veterans from across the state and even beyond. One participant traveled from Georgia just to be part of the movement.
Gregory Widmer, a fellow American Legion Rider, said the mission is clear: remind veterans they are not alone.
“They need to know they’re loved, that there’s somewhere to go and someone who cares. We’ve all dealt with dark moments. They can get through it, too,” he said. “We’ve got to get that number down from 22 veteran suicides a day to zero. Because that number is not just a statistic —it’s someone’s father, mother, brother, sister.”
But this year’s ride comes during a time of growing concern. The Department of Veterans Affairs recently laid off dozens of employees from its suicide prevention crisis line, citing a broader federal workforce reduction.
The move has drawn criticism from advocates who say the hotline is a lifeline for veterans in crisis.
“We’re riding to make sure they know they’re not forgotten,” rider Richard Palaszczuk said. “We’re doing this to make veterans feel welcome, and to show them they matter.”
The Ride to End Suicide will continue across the state throughout the week, with riders stopping at multiple American Legion posts along the way. Organizers hope the message is loud and clear — just like the sound of their engines.
According to the VA, all 300,000-plus VA mission-critical positions — including all Veterans Crisis Line positions — are exempt from the federal hiring freeze and layoffs, and hiring for all open mission-critical positions continues.
Moving forward, the VA says it will run through a deliberative process and find ways to improve care and benefits for veterans without cutting care and benefits for Veterans.
“We’re not talking about reducing medical staff or claims processors, we’re talking about reducing bureaucracy and inefficiencies that are getting in the way of customer convenience and service to veterans.”
Pete Kasperowicz, VA press secretary
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, help is available. Call the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1, or text 838255.
For more information on the event, click here.
