Sen. George Borello, R-Sunset Bay, at a special ceremony to recognize retired U.S. Army Brigadier General Arthur G. Austin Jr.

State Sen. George Borrello is among more than 20 senators supporting creation of a Veteran Suicide Remembrance Day.

With veterans being far more likely to experience mental illness and suicide, state lawmakers have begun to propose a dedicated day to recognizing and remembering this fact. S.4152A is again being reviewed in the state Senate, with many hopeful that this will bring more attention to the harsher struggles faced by so many that have protected and served.

S4152A was initially proposed by Sen. James Sanders Jr., D-South Ozone Park, and argues for the creation of the holiday on Sept. 22 of each year. Initially proposed in the Senate on Feb. 3, 2025, the bill was referred to the Finance committee first. Eventually the bill would pass the Senate on May 27, 2025. While the Assembly equivalent had been proposed on April 4, 2025, the bill would still go on to die in the Assembly. Now the bill has once again returned to the Senate and is once again being reviewed by the Finance Committee and has advanced to a third reading in the Senate.

Sanders said the there are currently a number of holidays that celebrate and remember historical events, people, cultural or religious celebrations as well as patriotic causes. The legislation made note that veterans are often subjected to increasingly intense or traumatizing scenarios, leaving the rate of mental illness and even suicide significantly higher amongst veterans.

“The United States Department of Veterans Affairs has previously reported that on average 22 veterans a day commit suicide,” Sanders stated in his legislative justification. “The rate of suicide among veterans was 1.4 times higher among male veterans and 1.8 times higher among female veterans when compared to the general adult population. In 2016 alone, 153 Veterans in New York committed suicide. This legislation designates September 22nd as ‘Veteran Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day.’ On this day New Yorkers will be called to remember that many of the wounds of war are unseen and persist long after the end of a veteran’s military service. This day will honor the fallen and their families by bringing awareness to this issue and commemorating their service to our country.”

The bill has gained quite a large amount of bipartisan support in the Senate. Currently, the bill has 22 co-sponsors, with 10 Democrats and 12 Republicans listed including Borrello. The Sunset Bay Republican said it’s important to bring more attention to the number of veterans who commit suicide.

“I’m proud to co-sponsor Senate Bill S4152A with Senator Sanders because this is an issue that deserves far more attention than it gets. Our veterans answered the call to serve, gave so much for this country, and in too many cases came home carrying invisible wounds that people simply do not see,” said Borrello. “The numbers are heartbreaking: an average of 22 veterans die by suicide every day in this country, and in 2016 alone, New York lost 153 veterans. Setting aside September 22 as Veteran Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day is one meaningful way to honor those we’ve lost, raise awareness about this crisis, and let families know their loved ones will not be forgotten.”