JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With pictures scattered all over the walls, Veterans United Craft Brewery is a place filled with stories.
“It’s almost like stepping back in time,” brewery founder and brewmaster Ron Gamble said. “It brings it to life. These aren’t just paintings; they’re about real people.”
Gamble served in the United States Navy before taking on brewing as a hobby that became a passion and eventually a new career path.
He founded Veterans United as a way to combine his past with that passion.
“So a lot of folks come through the door, and this reminds them of the old days on base,” he said.
But for many veterans, life after the service is a time to reflect on their sacrifice. A price many long after their final tour.
Every day, Veterans Affairs estimates that 22 veterans die by suicide in the United States. Over half of them are 50 years or older.
Nick Howland is the executive director at The Fire Watch, a nonprofit focused on bringing that number down.
“It’s a huge issue. Over 6,000 U.S. military veterans die by suicide each year here,” Howland said. “In Florida, it’s about 600. Here in Northeast Florida, traditionally between 70 and 80. It’s been that way for nearly 20 years, so we have a public health emergency.”
To address the crisis, The Fire Watch and Veterans United are teaming up.
The two have made a “hazy,” “New England” style IPA, branded with resources meant to help veterans who are struggling.
“We’re not advocating drinking as any kind of treatment,” Howland said. “What we’re advocating is spreading the word about the program.”
Each can has a QR code, and if you take out your phone and scan it, you are brought to a free training course with resources that could help save a veteran’s life.
Click HERE to access The Watch Stander Training.
“We’re doing that, ending veteran suicide by prevention. In our program, our core veteran suicide prevention program is called the Watch Stander program,” Howland said, “We are training. We are training community members to recognize the warning signs of crisis and get veterans to help.”
Since starting in 2019, Fire Watch has had over 7,000 people train in the program. That’s resulted in nearly 8,500 veterans being referred for help.
And by bringing veterans together for a drink, Veterans United hopes they will open up and get exposed to those resources.
Fire Watch said since it began, it’s seen an over 25% decrease in veteran suicides in Northeast Florida, while the rest of the state saw just a 1% decrease.
“It’s amazing when people start to have a beer,” Gamble said. “They lighten up. They ease up. That’s when they start to tell their stories and at that point, that’s when people will often tell things they wouldn’t normally say.”
And when those conversations happen, Gamble said, his staff is ready. His team was trained on the Watch Stander program when it first came out.
“Well to me it’s most enjoyable to see veterans come in here and talk to them,” he said. “Then they’ll talk to someone beside them, and they’ll just start sharing their stories.”
And with The Fire Watch resources in the palm of their hand, these former service men and women stand watch yet again.
“Marines don’t ask for help,” Howland said. “But if they’re offered help, they’ll take it.”