Vigil held for Ambrose

Sometimes a game is not just a game. That was especially true Monday night, when even as the Lake Roosevelt Lady Raiders were wrapping up a win in basketball, on the stage people were preparing hundreds of candles for afterward.

Is everything made softer by candlelight, even grief? Perhaps.

A community of many who cared about young Ambrose Moore experienced that when more than half the gym was ringed by those holding those candles for him after a weekend mourning the 17-year-old who ended his life Friday.

The community shared its grief, and, although incredibly sad, it was beautiful and comforting, including the strong songs and words sung in the Seven Drums tradition by Cubby Lone Bear, both before and after the game.

Ambrose’s father gathered soft fortitude to speak in the stillness, thanking all for attending.

“It means a lot to us because this shows how much Ambrose was loved,” Shad Moore said. “He loved each one of you guys. I just wanted to … thank you all for being here, for loving our son, our brother, our cousin, our classmate.

“You guys are amazing, and this community is amazing for lifting us up the way you have.” Then, like a father, a loving word of caution:

“It’s never too late. If you feel something is wrong in your life, in your situation, there’s help,” he said. “Do not keep it in. Because everyone here is right here, ready to help you.”

Then he offered a prayer — of thanks. Thanks for his son, for the community and those attending. And to cancel “this curse of suicide … in the name of Jesus, for know now this … plague is done.”

Before the game, several community members of the Seven Drums stood in a row for a song to honor Ambrose and to show the young people “that you always have to move forward,” Lone Bear said. “And this is why you have to have something to help you in your life. Because something’s gonna stand in your way, and what are you going to do? You can’t sit down and not do anything. Not going to play in that basketball game anymore, not going to go to school? No, you’re going to get back up, and you’re going to move forward.”

The Raider girls won their basketball game, but I think they’ll cherish more the time spent together to remember Ambrose.

That game had been postponed from its original schedule on Saturday night. A letter to the “Raider Family” was sent out Saturday morning to say the high school would be open from 1-3 p.m. “for grief counseling and a time for togetherness.” Counseling would also be offered at school on Monday, which started two hours late, as did Nespelem School.

“For additional support throughout the weekend, families can reach out to Renew – Grant Behavioral Health and Wellness, which can be contacted at (509) 633 – 1471, Okanogan Crisis Line at 1-866-826-6191; Text NATIVE to 741741, and the Washington Recovery Help Line at 1-866-789-1511,” the letter from Grand Coulee Dam School District Superintendent Rod Broadnax said.

Broadnax said a service for Ambrose Moore would be held at 5 p.m. Thursday in the gym.