2,222 pull-up challenge raises awareness for veterans suicide in Mt. Sinai

Standing in a line, about a dozen members of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Emergency Service Unit stepped up to a row of pull-up bars, took deep breaths and began hoisting themselves off the ground.

Taking turns, the officers hyped each other up and tallied their reps on a white board. Each movement helped chip away at a 2,222 pull-up challenge that began Saturday at the Heritage Center in Mount Sinai.

Suffolk Legis. Chad Lennon (R-Rocky Point) organized the event to raise awareness about veteran suicide prevention, break the stigma surrounding mental health and serve as a symbol of hope. The challenge was set to conclude at 10 a.m. Sunday with a veteran suicide remembrance ceremony at the park.

Lennon, a Marine Corps veteran who served in Afghanistan, said 22 represents the approximate number of veterans who die by suicide daily. Though a 2025 report from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs found the number of veteran suicides per day dropped slightly to 17.5 in 2023, Lennon and other officials say the numbers may be underreported.

Lennon said his goal was to spread hope and remind people they aren't alone.

"When you go into the service, you're taught to just suck it up, deal with it, move on and focus on the mission," he said in an interview. "It's OK to not be OK. We need to get it out there, because those that are most vulnerable are isolated. We have to get to them."

Joseph Cognitore, 79, a commander for VFW Post 6249 in Rocky Point, said veterans can be reluctant to discuss mental health.

"Everybody holds it in. We all have post-traumatic stress," he said Saturday.

Last year, the county legislature approved a measure allowing the Suicide Awareness and Remembrance flag to be flown at the Armed Forces Plaza in Hauppauge, though the proposal divided veterans, Newsday previously reported.

Cognitore said the SAR flag carries an important reminder, but he said it's important the American and POW/MIA flags are flown higher.

"It's an awareness, it needs to be there," he said in an interview. "I would love to say we don't have to fly it anymore, and that'll be the day that we have no suicides among all our people, veterans alike."

The flag will be raised at Sunday's ceremony, which will also honor Suffolk resident and Lance Cpl. Filipe Feitor Runa DaSilva, who died by suicide in 2021 after he was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps  because of an injury, according to the SAR Flag nonprofit. He was 22 years old.

Kate Hammond, of Port Jefferson, took part in the challenge with her CrossFit gym, and said she wants people to know help is out there. 

"That's a lot of people every day. It's sad, it's scary," Hammond said. "Even if you can get a little awareness, it's 10 minutes of my day."

The group from the sheriff's office set an initial goal of 100 each, but their competitive spirit took hold and they quickly surpassed the 200 mark.

"Anything that we could do to help bring awareness to that and how many people need our help is important," said corrections Officer Steven Quinones. "This is the least we can do to show support."

If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 988.