Joining forces
Feast pays tribute to the troops while rallying support for Brave and Broken
Tim Johnson came to P.E.I. to die.
“I was close to death, I was on every pain medication that there was including an anti-psychotic just to keep things balanced, and everything was shutting down,” said the veteran who served in high-conflict areas around the Middle East with the United States military.
With tears in his eyes he continued, “I was either going to take my life or the medications would do it. I came to P.E.I. so my wife (an Islander) could be with her family when that happened.
“Then I found Dennis after watching him in a video. He embraced me, took me in, and things really changed.” Dennis MacKenzie, 34, is the founder of the non-profit organization called Brave and Broken, which is a support group that helps all veterans, their families and caregivers, open up about any mental illness or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) they may be struggling with. A campaign was recently released by MacKenzie and members of Brave and Broken called “If I Take My Life.”
It asks veterans to share their experiences with PTSD, suicide and other mental or physical illness.
“When I was released from the Canadian Armed Forces it felt like walking into a fog and trying to navigate my way back into society,” shared MacKenzie, after a nine-year service in the military. “I was diagnosed with PTSD after returning from Afghanistan. I had a battle with trying to figure things out with not much success. But when I connected to similar veterans that’s when the healing process began, and I decided I wanted to help others by creating Brave and Broken,” he explained. Dennis Terry, one of the six board members said, “Without Brave and Broken these men and women would not be with us today. And I mean not just maybe, but definitely.” MacKenzie admitted nine of his comrades lost their battle to suicide.
“After the video (If I Take My Life) was launched in June this year, my friend killed himself. He was in support of the campaign and his name was George. We need to talk openly about what happened because these are heroes that lost their lives to the invisible wounds of war and they are no different than a soldier who dies on the battlefield,” he stressed.
“They deserve to be remembered as such,” added MacKenzie. “We cannot abandon them.” There are currently thousands of service men and women suffering from PTSD and mental illness.
But Brave and Broken is there to initially help veterans with their emergency needs, and then get them to Veterans Affairs of Canada or help them connect – they are the ‘big brother’ in their efforts. The group meet every Wednesday at the Wilmot Community Center in Summerside at 10 a.m. The local organization, which was founded and incorporated as an NFP in August 2017, plans to branch out on a national level, and eventually international.
Feast Dinner Theatre is helping the initiative, while also paying a respectful tribute to the troops with their latest musical comedy called ‘Twas the Night: Christmas in Kandahar.’ Revenue from tickets sold on Wednesday, Nov. 21 will go to support Brave and Broken. The new Feast production has a goal to put a smile on the troops, while offering them the taste and comfort of home. Johnson surmised, “You’re in a machine all the time, but during a concert that machine is turned off for two hours. It completely takes you from a war zone to a peaceful civilian place.” Summerside’s Brother’s Two Restaurant, located at 618 Water Street, kicks off the show on Saturday, Nov. 17. The Rodd Charlottetown hotel, on 75 Kent Street, starts the following week on Nov. 23, with a preview on Thursday 22. The Rodd Miramichi River, NB., begins on Tuesday, Dec. 4.
For more information visit, www.feastdinnertheatres.com.
To specifically book tickets to the Brave and Broken fundraiser held on Wednesday evening, Nov. 21, call retired colonel Denny Hopping at 902-439-6783. For all other bookings call 902436-7674.