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Brother of fallen Marine uses music to heal himself, others
Concert Dec. 20th to benefit families of fallen heroes
UPDATE: December 18, 2009: Due to the winter storm warning for the Washington, DC area, the concert is being re-scheduled for a later date. Check the TAPS Web site at www.taps.org for more information.
Nick Letendre has been a musician for more than a decade, but ever since 2006, he picks up his guitar and raises his voice for a higher purpose.
Letendre’s older brother Brian, a Marine Corps Captain, was killed 3 years ago while conducting combat operations in Iraq.
“I remember being so angry when I heard,” said Letendre. “I remember driving home and just hitting things in my car…I lived the next few days in a fog.”
As his family processed the loss, Nick leaned on his music as a way to grieve.
“I didn’t really know what to do with myself,” he said, “The rest of my family was mourning in their own way and this was the way I felt most natural to release my emotion.”
“Eventually I turned to some of my friends who wanted to help, and we started to play together.”
In 2008 Nick formed a band called ‘In Remembrance’ to honor his brother’s sacrifice as well as the service of other military members around the world.
‘IR’ has tour dates scheduled well into 2010 at military bases across the nation, but this Sunday they will play a special concert at the Rock and Roll Hotel in D.C. to directly benefit families who have lost a military loved one.
“When I was at Arlington and heard about TAPS, they identified with what I went through and was still going through, and it made all the difference.”
TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) is a non-profit organization based here in D.C. that offers immediate and long-term support for anyone grieving the loss of a military member.
Created in 1994, TAPS has grown to more than 25,000 widows, children, siblings, parents, fiancés, etc., who provide a network of healing for newly-bereaved military families and friends.
“We want to do all we can for these families,” said Letendre. “I know what they’ve been through, and I know they need the support of TAPS.”