Image Courtesy of Marj Matchee

By Nicole Reis

Honouring Veterans

Virtual ceremony to take place to honour veterans still with us

Nov 9, 2019 | 8:00 AM

Marj Matchee is honouring veterans here at home, but with a modern twist.

Matchee is the wife of a veteran and the creator of #OpBeacon, a candlelight vigil ceremony that raises awareness and honours veterans who are home struggling with physical and mental illness as a result of combat. This is her third vigil held in Meadow Lake.

She says the government is facing a backlog of veterans who are struggling with financial and medical issues and her mission is to honour those who have come home but are never the same.

“We have a suicide epidemic among our military and they feel forgotten. We honour people in the daylight and we honour those that are gone but it’s important to remember those that came home but are never the same again and still struggle today,” Matchee said.

From 11 p.m. until dawn beginning on Sunday, Matchee among other community members will be at the Cenotaph at the Legion to honour the fallen.

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In conjunction with the vigil, Matchee with host a virtual out-reach through Facebook Live where individuals can light a candle at home and participate in the event virtually.

Matchee says live Facebook feeds will come from her page, Capt. Phillip Brooke’s in Ottawa and Derek Bodnar in Calgary.

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nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

@nicolereis7722