Military Veteran Project Launches the Guardian Network to Strengthen Community Support for Veterans1/26/2026  Across the country, many veterans face challenges after leaving military service. While communities often want to help, many people simply don’t know how to recognize when a veteran may be struggling or how to connect them with the right support. To help bridge that gap, the Military Veteran Project created the Guardian Network, a community-based initiative focused on education, awareness, and connection. The Guardian Network empowers civilians, organizations, businesses, and community leaders with the knowledge and tools needed to better support veterans and military families. The goal is simple: ensure that no veteran faces challenges alone. Through the Guardian Network, participants learn how to recognize signs that a veteran may be experiencing stress, isolation, or difficulty adjusting after service. More importantly, they learn how to respond with compassion and connect veterans to appropriate resources and support services. The program emphasizes that suicide prevention and veteran support do not begin in hospitals or crisis centers — they begin in communities. When neighbors, coworkers, teachers, healthcare providers, and community leaders understand the experiences veterans may face, they can help create environments where veterans feel supported, understood, and connected. The Guardian Network also works alongside businesses, medical providers, nonprofit organizations, schools, and community groups to expand local support systems for veterans. By building stronger community awareness and education, the program helps ensure that veterans know they are not alone and that help is always within reach. The Military Veteran Project believes that every community has the ability to play a role in supporting those who served. Because when communities stand together, veterans are never left to walk alone. Join the Guardian Network Individuals and organizations interested in becoming part of the Guardian Network are encouraged to sign up and learn more about upcoming training opportunities and ways to get involved. Together, we can strengthen communities and support the men and women who have served our nation.  Why the Guardian Network Matters
Many veterans return home carrying experiences that most civilians will never fully understand. While some transition smoothly into civilian life, others face challenges such as isolation, trauma, relationship stress, or difficulty reconnecting with everyday life outside of the military. Unfortunately, these struggles are not always visible. Friends, coworkers, neighbors, and even family members may notice changes but may not know how to respond or where to turn for help. That is why the Guardian Network is so important. The Guardian Network focuses on strengthening the role communities play in supporting veterans before challenges become crises. By educating civilians, businesses, medical professionals, faith leaders, and community organizations, the program helps create environments where veterans feel supported, understood, and connected. When communities are equipped with knowledge and awareness, they can: • Recognize when a veteran may be struggling • Start supportive conversations • Connect veterans to appropriate resources • Help reduce isolation and stigma • Strengthen the network of care surrounding those who served The truth is that suicide prevention and veteran support cannot rely on institutions alone. Communities play a critical role. When people understand the challenges veterans may face and feel confident stepping forward to help, the entire community becomes part of the support system. The Guardian Network exists to build those stronger communities. Because when communities become Guardians, veterans are never left to face their battles alone.
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A former U.S. Army Infantryman, Torben served multiple years with deployments that shaped not just how he saw the world—but how he carried it. Like many veterans, he came home with discipline, resilience, and a deep sense of responsibility.
And like many… he came home to something quieter than expected. No formations. No shared mission. No one checking in. Just life—moving forward. Torben didn’t fall apart. He built a career. He showed up. He kept going. But beneath the surface, something didn’t sit right. Not broken. Not in crisis. Just… carrying more than he should. That’s where his story intersects with the Military Veteran Project. Not as just another veteran. Not as a number. But as someone who understood the space between “I’m fine” and “I’m not okay.” Today, Torben continues to serve as a paramedic in Kansas—showing up for people on some of their hardest days. And behind the scenes at Military Veteran Project, he helps connect with veterans and families navigating that same middle space. He’s not here to fix anyone. He’s not here to have all the answers. He’s here to stand beside you. Because most veterans don’t need a headline moment to matter. They need someone who understands, before it ever gets there.  USW 307L Veterans of Steel have brought Hope to Military Families Through Operation Holiday Joy For the past several Christmas seasons, something meaningful has been happening quietly here in our community. Not for recognition. Not for attention. But out of a continued commitment to serve. Through a partnership with the Military Veteran Project, the USW 307L Veterans of Steel have stepped forward year after year to support military and veteran families during the holiday season—bringing not just gifts, but something far more lasting: hope, dignity, and connection. Continuing the Mission Just in a Different Way For many of the veterans involved, service didn’t end when they took off the uniform. It simply changed form. What we’ve witnessed through this partnership is a group of men and women who understand what it means to serve—and who continue to show up for others in ways that matter. Packing gifts. Coordinating support. Making sure families feel seen during a time of year that can be especially difficult. This is what service looks like beyond the military. Reaching Families Who Need It Most The families supported through these efforts are often those navigating real challenges—financial strain, transition, or simply a season of life where things feel heavy. And during the holidays, those challenges can feel even greater. Because every parent wants to give their child something special. Every family wants to feel a sense of normalcy. Every home deserves a moment of peace and joy.  Through the generosity of USW 307L Veterans of Steel many of these families were able to experience exactly that.
Gifts under the tree. Smiles on their children’s faces. A reminder that they are not alone. More Than Gifts—A Message That Matters What makes this partnership so powerful isn’t just what was given. It’s who it came from. Veterans supporting fellow veterans and military families. People who understand the weight of service. The sacrifice. The transition back into civilian life. There’s something deeply meaningful about that connection. Because it says: “We see you. We’ve been there. And we’re still here for you.” A Community That Shows Up At the Military Veteran Project, we often say that prevention and healing start with connection. This partnership is a perfect example of that. It’s not about one organization doing everything. It’s about people coming together—each doing their part—to create something bigger than themselves. Looking Ahead As we continue to build stronger communities across Kansas, partnerships like this remind us of what’s possible. When veterans continue to serve. When businesses step forward. When communities choose to care. Lives are impacted. Families are supported. And hope is restored. Honoring the fallen. Uniting the living. Inspiring the next generation.  The Story Behind the Flags Forward Movement On Memorial Day weekend, cemeteries across America quietly transform. Small American flags begin to appear beside headstones-one by one-until entire fields of red, white, and blue stretch across the landscape. Each flag represents a life. A service member. A veteran. A father, mother, brother, sister, daughter, son or friend. Through the Flags Forward movement, the Military Veteran Project (MVP) is working to ensure that every veteran is remembered. But the movement began with something much smaller. A single flag. Where the Movement Began In 2012, Staff Sergeant Jamie Jarboe passed away, leaving behind his wife, Melissa Jarboe, and their daughters. The following year, as Memorial Day approached, Melissa and her daughters visited the cemetery to bring Jamie an American flag. Like many families, they wanted to honor his service and sacrifice. But as they walked through the cemetery, they noticed something that stayed with them. Some of the veterans buried near Jamie did not have a flag beside their graves. The realization was simple but powerful. If one veteran deserved to be remembered, then every veteran deserved the same honor. So Melissa and her daughters began placing flags not only at Jamie’s grave, but also at the graves of other veterans nearby. What started as a quiet act of remembrance soon became something more. A small movement began to grow. From One Family to a Community Effort Over the following years, the effort slowly expanded as more people joined in. Friends, families, and volunteers began helping place flags at the graves of veterans in local cemeteries. The simple act of placing a flag became a powerful way for communities to honor those who served. By 2016, the Military Veteran Project formally adopted the effort and helped expand it as part of its mission to support veterans and their families. The program became known as Flags Forward. Today, the initiative continues to grow as communities come together to ensure that no veteran is forgotten. Why Flags Forward Matters While large national cemeteries often receive major Memorial Day tributes, many veterans are buried in smaller community cemeteries where recognition can sometimes be limited. Flags Forward focuses on those local cemeteries. Through coordinated volunteer efforts, community members help place American flags at the graves of veterans ahead of Memorial Day so families visiting their loved ones will see that their service is remembered. For many families, that simple flag carries enormous meaning. It tells them their loved one’s service still matters. A Community Movement Flags Forward is intentionally designed to involve the entire community. Participants may include: • Veterans and military families • Schools and youth organizations • Churches and civic groups • Businesses and community teams • Volunteers who want to help honor those who served By involving younger generations, the program also helps educate communities about the meaning of Memorial Day and the sacrifices made by those in uniform. A Flag. A Name. A Legacy. What began with one family placing a flag for a loved one has grown into a movement built on remembrance, respect, and community. Each flag tells a story. Each headstone carries a name. And every name represents someone who once stepped forward to serve their country. Through Flags Forward, communities now have a way to step forward in return. Join the Flags Forward Movement The Military Veteran Project invites communities to take part in the Flags Forward movement by volunteering, sponsoring flags, or helping organize local efforts. Because every veteran deserves to be remembered.
 Connecting Kansas Communities to Veteran Support
Program Overview The Kansas Prevention Initiative is a statewide outreach program led by the Military Veteran Project that focuses on early intervention, community connection, and suicide prevention for veterans across Kansas. Through direct engagement with medical providers, mental health professionals, community organizations, veteran groups, and local leaders, the initiative works to strengthen the network of support available to veterans and military families. Rather than waiting for a crisis to occur, the Kansas Prevention Initiative focuses on building relationships, strengthening awareness, and connecting communities with the tools needed to support veterans before challenges escalate. By traveling across Kansas and meeting directly with organizations that serve the public, the Military Veteran Project helps ensure veterans have access to trusted resources, informed professionals, and compassionate communities. Why This Matters Many veterans struggle silently with challenges related to: • Transition from military service • Trauma and combat stress • Isolation and loss of identity • Difficulty navigating healthcare systems • Barriers to accessing mental health care Too often, the people who interact with veterans every day-doctors, counselors, employers, churches, and community leaders want to help but simply lack the information or connections to do so effectively. The Kansas Prevention Initiative bridges that gap by connecting communities with knowledge, training, and trusted support networks. Because suicide prevention starts long before a crisis. It starts with informed communities. What the Initiative Does The Kansas Prevention Initiative focuses on three core actions: Community Outreach Military Veteran Project representatives travel across Kansas to meet with: • Mental health providers • Medical facilities • Hospitals and clinics • Veteran service organizations • Churches and faith communities • Businesses and employers • Schools and universities • Community nonprofits These visits help introduce available veteran resources and strengthen local support networks. Resource Connection The program connects organizations with tools and support such as: • Veteran suicide prevention education • Community awareness materials • Connections to trusted partner organizations • Veteran support referrals • Military culture education The goal is to ensure professionals interacting with veterans understand how to recognize warning signs and where to direct veterans for help. Building Community Guardians The Kansas Prevention Initiative works alongside the Guardian Network program, encouraging communities to become active participants in veteran support. Through education and training, community members learn how to: • Recognize when a veteran may be struggling • Start supportive conversations • Connect veterans with available resources • Help prevent isolation Because every veteran deserves a community that understands them. Who This Program Serves The Kansas Prevention Initiative supports: • Veterans • Active duty service members • National Guard and Reserve members • Military families • Community professionals serving veterans While the focus is on Kansas communities, the knowledge and resources provided benefit veterans across the region. How Communities Can Participate Organizations interested in participating in the Kansas Prevention Initiative can: • Host a community outreach visit • Participate in Guardian Network training • Share veteran support resources • Become a community partner Together, we can create stronger support systems for the men and women who served our country. Program Goals • Increase awareness of veteran suicide prevention in Kansas • Strengthen connections between veteran support organizations • Educate communities about military culture and trauma • Improve access to resources for veterans and families • Build a statewide network of communities committed to veteran wellbeing Long-Term Vision The Kansas Prevention Initiative aims to build a connected network of informed communities across Kansas where veterans are recognized, supported, and never left to struggle alone. Through education, partnerships, and community leadership, the Military Veteran Project is working to ensure every Kansas community is equipped to support those who served. |
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SERVING OUR MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES SINCE 2012
The Military Veteran Project is a non-profit 501 (c)3 organization, IRS identification number 46-0877378. Donations made to the Military Veteran Project are tax deductible in the U.S. ·