More than 600 flags planted in Tower Park to honor veterans who died by suicide

FORT THOMAS, Ky. — More than 600 flags were planted in Fort Thomas' Tower Park this week, each one representing a veteran who died by suicide.

"If you could name the emotions of a roller coaster, it's the emotions I have right now," said Deb Winkler, a volunteer at Northern Kentucky Service Members, Veterans and Families Suicide Prevention Coalition.

More than 600 flags planted in Tower Park to honor veterans who died by suicide

Winkler’s son, Matthew, was a corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps. He did two tours as a senior intelligence specialist. Then, just 10 days before his 28th birthday, he died by suicide.

"As a mother, I attempted to try and find those resources for Matthew, to help Matthew, and I was turned away because I was not a spouse," Winkler said.

She said that's why she h