Almonte, Ontario
Details
Matthew Carson
Matthew Carson
Along with helping Veterans with applications for benefits, visiting and checking in on those who may have limitations, and being a key player in the organization of the Battle of Britain ceremony sponsored by the RCAF Association, Matthew Carson has been serving the Veteran community for several decades through the various associations he is involved with.
Matthew sits on the board of directors for the 410 Wing of the RCAF Association of Canada. During his 45-year membership he has acted as an outreach officer and has been the Battle of Britain Veterans Contingent Commander since 2015. As Veterans Contingent Commander, Matthew is a key player in the planning, organizing and liaising for the ceremony. He is responsible for outreach and coordinating the involvement of local and area Veterans, serving RCAF members and the Polish Air Force Veterans. His years of experience proves to be a huge benefit to those serving RCAF members who are assigned to help out each year and don’t have the prior experience. He assists with the planning, coordination and transportation of the all the Veterans who arrive to take part in the ceremony, and plans for their comfort in inclement weather. He leads the Veterans who march in the Memorial Parade and participates in the ceremony itself. The ceremony is normally attended by up to 250 Veterans. His involvement requires numerous meetings at the Department of National Defence headquarters and Beechwood National Military Cemetery over a five month period, each including two hours of travel. The ceremony is highly anticipated each year by all Veterans.
Matthew has also been a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 240 for fifteen years and has acted in the roles of Parade Commander, Sergeant at Arms, Colour Sergeant, Membership Chair and Veterans Service Officer. He provides anywhere from two to five hours a week assisting Veterans with their applications for VIP benefits and various other health related programs, most of which are successful. He provides advice to the members and ensures he schedules a visit or phone call to those who may have mobility issues. He also helps organize and carry out the Remembrance Day ceremonies in several surrounding communities and acts as Parade Marshal and Colour Party Sergeant which takes months of planning involving at least fifteen hours of meetings.
Matthew has been a member of the NATO Veterans Organization of Canada for fifteen years, with a role on the National Executive since 2012 and as Past President of Unit 3. He assisted with the physical and administrative necessities of the Organization’s move from New Brunswick to Ottawa and acted as the Sergeant at Arms for the Organization’s Diamond Jubilee ceremony at the National War Museum in 2012.
In addition to his simultaneous volunteer work with these three organizations, he also acts as an on-call volunteer at Almonte General Hospital when Veterans are admitted. He visits and provides comfort and assistance at retirement homes ten to fifteen times annually. He has and continues to recruit new members of all the associations he is involved with. As described by his nominator, “Matt is a steadying voice to our Veterans and as such he is respected and is frequently called upon to intervene on their behalf.”