Brian L. Arredondo, 24, died by his own hand December 19. He had been distraught for some time about the death of his brother, Alexander S. Arredondo, during the Iraq war.
Many Boston Occupiers and their supporters came to know the story of Brian’s brother Alex during the Dewey Square occupation as his family created and maintained ‘Camp Alex,’ an anti-war memorial dedicated to the fallen Marine. Carlos Arredondo, Brian and Alex’s father, was also a Dewey Square Occupier himself.
An Occupier who visited with Carlos and Melida Arredondo yesterday asked how Occupy Boston could help:
“Carlos said that the best ways are to make the issues visible. Suicide among military members and families of military are too prevalent. In the last two years, more U.S. service members took their own lives than were killed in combat.”
The family has extended an invitation to all to join them for the vigil and march, which will begin at 6 pm at the First Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Jamaica Plain, 6 Eliot St, Boston, MA 02130. The march will be to the post office that was renamed in honor of Alex.
A Brian Arredondo Memorial Fund has been set up to cover memorial expenses at The Cooperative Bank, 40 Belgrade Avenue, Roslindale, Massachusetts 02131.