07/19/2026
🕊️ In Loving Memory of Mattie L. 🕊️
Last night, July 18, 2026, members of Alcoholics Together gathered for a special Memorial & Remembrance Meeting to honor the life of our friend and fellow member, Mattie L.
It was an evening filled with heartfelt memories, tears, gratitude, laughter, reflection, and, most importantly, hope. Members shared their experiences of losing sponsors, sponsees, friends, and loved ones in recovery, while also sharing how the Fellowship helped carry them through those difficult times.
Alcoholism is a life-threatening illness. The Big Book reminds us that we are fighting for our lives and that recovery is a daily gift. Every meeting attended, every phone call made, every conversation with a sponsor, every act of service, and every newcomer welcomed matters.
Whether someone dies with many years of sobriety or while still struggling with this disease, each life leaves us something to learn. Those who remain sober show us that recovery is possible. Those we lose remind us never to take our sobriety for granted and to continue reaching out to the alcoholic who still suffers.
One of the evening's most meaningful reminders came from the Big Book:
"We alcoholics see that we must work together and hang together, else most of us will finally die alone."
— Alcoholics Anonymous, Appendix I, p. 561
Grief affects each of us differently, but none of us has to face it alone. If you're struggling today, reach out. Talk with your sponsor. Call another alcoholic. Attend a meeting. Pray. Write an inventory. Share honestly about your feelings before making any decisions about your recovery.
The greatest tribute we can give to Mattie is not only to remember him, but to continue living the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous—welcoming the newcomer, extending the hand of sponsorship, supporting one another, and carrying the message of hope.
Thank you to everyone who attended and shared so openly. Your honesty and compassion made it a beautiful evening of healing and remembrance.
Rest in peace, Mattie. You will be remembered, and your life continues to remind us of the importance of fellowship, unity, and one day at a time.
❤️ Together, we recover.
Lambda Alano
