Talos Farris, Fall River's veteran service officer, described his 15 years of military service and his difficult transition to civilian life, and urged veterans to seek help during a Memorial Day broadcast on Fall River Government Television.

Farris said he served as a naval hospital corpsman and treated critically injured service members during deployments. “My purpose is here, to not only advocate for veterans, but do it evenly across the board for everyone, no matter what group they belong to,” he said on the broadcast.

The broadcast noted that Massachusetts law requires every city and town to support a veteran service office and that Fall River employs a full‑time veteran service officer. Farris recounted periods of homelessness and difficulty reconnecting with family after leaving active duty and said part of his office’s mission is “intentionally meeting veterans where they are.”

The program cited national and nonprofit resources discussed on air: the Veterans Crisis Line at 988 (then press 1) for immediate assistance and a veteran outreach effort organized by the American Legion in which volunteers make phone, text or in‑person checks. The broadcast said the American Legion’s volunteer network made direct contact with roughly 340,000 veterans last year and that, according to Legion‑compiled numbers cited on the program, the suicide rate for service members is about double the civilian rate.

The program also mentioned that some veterans used talk therapy programs through a Wounded Warrior organization, and Farris encouraged veterans and family members to reach out to local providers if they are struggling.

The broadcast tied the outreach message to local commemoration: speakers pointed viewers to the Veterans Memorial Bicentennial Park along the waterfront as both a memorial site and a place where veterans and families gather.

The on‑air material was presented as part of a Memorial Day parade broadcast; it did not include any formal municipal action or vote concerning veteran services during the segment.

For veterans seeking assistance, the broadcast referenced the Veterans Crisis Line (988, then press 1) and encouraged contacting local veteran services in Fall River.