Moving Forward Together. The Strength in Community, Vulnerability, and Purpose

As we come to the final post in this blog series, I want to take a moment to reflect on the journey we’ve taken together, through the ups and downs, the struggles and the victories, the deep challenges and the hope filled moments.

We began this series on April of 2025, and since then, we’ve walked through the pillars that support the work we do at BRAVE Together: community, vulnerability, resilience, and purpose. These are the foundation of the healing journey that so many first responders, veterans, and service members are on right now.

It is deeply important to pause and honor those we have lost since April. As of mid August 2025, there have been 59 law enforcement line of duty deaths nationwide, including the heartbreaking Tremonton, Utah shootings on August 18 where two officers were killed in an ambush. On June 29, 2025, during an ambush on Canfield Mountain in Idaho, two battalion chiefs Frank Harwood and John Morrison were fatally shot while serving their community. For our veterans and service members, the Department of Defense reported in the first quarter of 2025 that 71 active duty, 17 reserve, and 29 National Guard members died by suicide. While not line of duty in the same sense, these losses weigh heavily on all of us.

Beyond those killed in service, we must also face the painful reality of suicide. On average, over 180 officers a year die by suicide, far more than those lost in the line of duty. Already in 2025, states like New York and Texas have seen alarming spikes, with clusters of losses shaking entire agencies. Firefighters face the same burden, with suicides consistently outnumbering line of duty deaths each year, though full nationwide data for 2025 is still being compiled. And perhaps most sobering, approximately 6,000 to 6,700 veterans die by suicide annually, averaging 18 lives lost every single day. These are not just statistics, they are fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, friends, and colleagues. Their loss is a call for us to act, to care, and to keep building spaces where healing is possible.

Throughout this series, we have explored the core pillars that shape the healing journey. We began with community, remembering that healing happens when we come together, when we share our struggles, and when we find strength in each other. As Ecclesiastes 4:9 10 reminds us, “Two are better than one… If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” Your strength, your courage, and your story matter. Together, we can lift each other up.

We then talked about vulnerability, and the truth that vulnerability is strength. Healing begins the moment we open up. As James 5:16 says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” By being vulnerable, we allow others to see us as we are, and in return, we give ourselves permission to heal.

We also explored resilience, the ability to stand firm in the face of adversity. Life in service can bring unimaginable challenges, but these trials do not define us. They shape us into stronger individuals with deeper character. Romans 5:3 4 reminds us, “Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Every obstacle is an opportunity to build resilience, and at BRAVE Together, we walk that road with you, side by side.

Finally, we talked about identity and purpose after service. It can feel disorienting to step away from a role that has shaped so much of who you are. But your purpose does not end when the uniform comes off. Jeremiah 29:11 gives us this promise: “For I know the plans I have for you… plans to give you a future and a hope.” There is a future full of possibility and new purpose ahead of you, waiting to be embraced.

As we close this series, I want to leave you with this truth: you are not alone. Whatever struggles you are facing, whether it is transitioning from service, dealing with trauma, or simply feeling lost, know that you have a community here at BRAVE Together who understands and supports you. Your story is still unfolding. With every step you take forward, there is healing, hope, and a new purpose waiting for you. If there is one thing I want you to take away from this series, it is this: you are strong, you are resilient, you are valuable, and there is always a way forward, together.

As we walk this journey, I will leave you with one final verse from Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” God is with you, and we are with you. Together, we will face whatever comes next and come out stronger.

Authored by BRAVE Together Founder, Matt Thompson, Washington State