Community comes together to remember and honor late Cedar Park firefighter

CEDAR PARK, Texas – On Saturday, a group of people gathered at Whitestone Brewery and 600 Degrees in Cedar Park to show support for Cedar Park firefighter Corey Flores.

Flores, 27, served with the department for several years.

Last month he committed suicide.

His old team came together Saturday to lend a helping hand to his family.

“Because of who he was,” said Jonathan Perez, a friend of Flores and a Cedar Park firefighter. “You called him, he was there. You needed to let off steam, he listened. You had to laugh, he was there. You needed motivation in the gym, he was always there for you.”

Flores has made a career out of service.

He worked as a firefighter in Cedar Park for several years before recently starting a new job with the Round Rock Fire Department.

“Man, he was a fool,” said Jason Holman, another friend of Flores and a Cedar Park firefighter. “He tried his best to make people laugh.”

Behind the joy he brought to many was a struggle with mental health.

He died about two weeks ago.

Since that day, his close friends say, in true Flores fashion, he is still saving lives.

“In his last act, he became an organ donor, and that was a huge thing for him and for his family to want to talk about it,” Holman said.

The Cedar Park Fire Association sold T-shirts to raise money for Flores’ family.

A portion of all food served at 600 Degrees on Saturday was also donated.

There is also GoFundMe for your family.

“Just to be able to support them, help with funeral expenses and just help in the future with their family,” Holman said. “He has parents and a daughter whom he leaves behind.”

Flores leaves behind his two-year-old daughter, Leila.

“He loved his daughter very much. He just loved helping people,” Perez said.

This call to service is now intertwined with his legacy.

“We miss him,” Perez said.

For the people wearing his name on their backs Saturday, there is no better way to honor Flores than to repay his service.

“Not only supporting our firefighter family because obviously we miss him a lot, but also trying to support his family just because they’re going through a tough time and we just want to kind of extend that,” Holman said. Just because he passed away doesn’t mean he’s not part of our family, so now his family is kind of our family.”

If you or a loved one is feeling upset, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Line for free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

CLICK HERE warning signs and risk factors for suicide and CLICK HERE more about 988 Lifeline.