2,000 attend funeral of Florida veteran who died alone

Edward Pearson passed away on August 31 at the age of 80. He had no immediate family, but the funeral director had a plan to still give Pearson one last amazing honor: An open invitation to the public.

Military sees frustrating trend as suicides spike

WASHINGTON (AP) — Military suicides surged this year to a record high among active duty troops, continuing a deadly trend that Pentagon officials say is frustrating and they are struggling to counter.

Veterans hit NYC streets on horseback to raise suicide awareness

When Mitchell Reno returned home after fighting overseas with the U.S. military, he says he had to face a whole new battle: substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder. But now he is three and a half years sober and on the road to recovery, thanks to BraveHearts equine therapy program for veterans.

Deadly attack in Syria

An explosion killed two U.S. military service members and two American civilians who were on a routine patrol in northern Syria. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack.

Coast Guard members on duty during shutdown

Sector New York, based on Staten Island, is the U.S. Coast Guard's busiest operational field command in the United States. About a thousand employees watch over New York Harbor. Many of them say they are gearing up for what could be a very big struggle in the coming weeks as their bills pile up while their paychecks are on hold.

Navy SEAL museum on Long Island closer to reality

Loved ones and elected officials on Friday broke ground on a Navy SEAL museum named after the late Lt. Michael P. Murphy, a Medal of Honor recipient and a Long Island native.

Veterans bond with horses

Simonette Lezama had never ridden a horse before until she joined a therapeutic riding program through Great Strides Long Island. The nonprofit offers horseback riding lessons to veterans and their immediate families free of charge. The program, which so far has 13 veterans enrolled, includes taking care of, riding and interacting with the horses. It is offered seven days a week for an hour each time.

Supporting veterans

We know how to celebrate veterans. Once a year, Veterans Day parades are filled with smiles and appreciation. But the next 364 days that follow leave some veterans feeling forgotten.

Homes for gold star families

The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation announced the gold star family home program, which will provide mortgage-free homes to surviving military spouses and their young children.

Relay for Heroes race

Relay for Heroes race, which starts and ends at the Intrepid Museum, benefits the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, a nonprofit that supports the construction of traumatic brain injury treatment and research centers on military bases across the country.

What would the Space Force be?

During an address to a Space Council meeting, President Trump announced the formation of a Space Force to become a new branch of the United States military. He said that he is directing the Pentagon to create the space force as an independent service branch to join the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Trump ordered the Department of Defense to "immediately begin the process."

Troops volunteering during Fleet Week

In town for New York Fleet Week, some military personnel decided to volunteer within the community. Several service members refreshed the Brownsville Senior Center in Brooklyn on Thursday.

Veterans to climb Denali

Marine Corps Sgt. Kirstie Ennis and Air Force Senior Airman Katelyn Sheehan have both retired from the service. Though, for the past two years, they've been prepping for a new mission: the pair plans on becoming the first all-female veteran team to summit Denali, the highest peak in North America.

Veterans in Residence Program

WeWork and Bunker Labs are offering a new Veterans in Residence Program that gives military veterans-turned-entrepreneurs access to free workspace and programming to help them grow their ventures. The program has 100 veterans participating in 6-month cohorts in 10 cities in the country. Mike Steadman is community manager of the Veterans in Residence Program here in New York City. He is also a Marine. Mike served as an infantry officer in the Marine Corps for five years. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 and then to Japan and the Philippines in 2014.

Trump frustrated by border wall delays

Until he gets his border wall, President Donald Trump announced he wants to deploy the U.S. military to secure the border with Mexico. The White House later said Trump wants to mobilize the National Guard. The president was still fired up as he has been for days about illegal immigration. Federal law prohibits the use of active duty service members for law enforcement inside the U.S., unless specifically authorized by Congress. But over the past 12 years, presidents have twice sent National Guard troops to the border to bolster security and assist with surveillance and other support.