8 Life After Losing Your Soldier
By Jame Whan, Marie-Ann Temblay-Gagnon and Erika Murdaca
Introduction
Welcome,
Jamie Whan, Marie-Ann Tremblay-Gagnon, and Erika Murdaca, Ontario Tech University students, have collaborated to develop an educational resource on the hardships of losing a fallen soldier. The Military widows live in a culture that is so small and so unique. We felt that the hardships and memories that the widows carry with them are a culture that deserves a proper exhibit to highlight the pain, struggles and triumphs that they endure to honour their fallen soldiers.
When the administrative paperwork has been done after the blur of the funeral arrangements has passed, the extended friends and family have gone, the military culture they once felt a part of is forever changed, and all there is left is the silent sorrow of a widow.
As Monica Bobbit (2022) states, “You don’t just lose someone once. You lose them every day. Over and over again. For the rest of your life.”
Within this digital artifact, you are invited to expand your understanding of the history of the Canadian Armed Forces and the military culture. Furthermore, the exhibit provides a focus on military widowhood, offering an exclusive interview with an active commanding officer and another with a military widow who dedicates her time to advocating for and articulating the challenges unique to the experience of widowhood. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to hear from military widows as they articulate and expand upon their lived experiences. Complemented by a photo/video gallery, the exhibit seeks to provide a holistic perspective on the aftermath of the loss of a soldier, aiming to foster a deeper understanding of the multifaceted impact on the lives of those left behind, particularly the widows.