The first time I met Matthew he was this tall. (Gesture down beside the legs). He was a cute little rascal with a smile and big blue eyes that could melt granite. Way back then, he and his sister Danease would accompany Steve and Debby to Ragtime where we would socialize, and sometimes my wife and b daughters came with me as well.
Little Matt would always be drawing pictures or writing little stories in handwriting so minute it was almost impossible for me to read. He was delighted when I would teach him some of the techniques of drawing. Sometimes, he worked on his homework. Time played its usual trick, and before we knew it, Matt was middle school aged. His parents decided since Bob Shimp and I were working at Mayport Middle School, it would be good to send Matt there, so they did. It was a good move.
Matt made the football and soccer teams, both of which I coached. At the time, he was still relatively small for his age. He made up for that with rugged toughness and determination. I remember when one of the football players, almost twice his size, charged down on him and knocked him for a loop. Matt literally flew through the air and landed on his back. His helmet had turned around sideways on his head. Matt sat up, turned the helmet back the right way, grinned and got up as if nothing had happened.
As with most kids, there are occasional rough spots, and Matt’s stubborn nature caused a few problems at home. Steve and Debbie, characteristically, were having none of that, and Matt ended up in Riverside Military Academy. This was to prove to be another good move. I remember the principal of Mayport, Bill Reynolds, saying, “Ya know, some parents talk a big show, but the Platts did something about it.”
Matt prospered in Military school and ended up at the top of his class. He received many awards and commendations. Most recently he was pursuing a successful career in the United States Navy, aspiring to be a pilot or Navy Seal. Matt made all of us very, very proud of him.
The last time I saw Matt he was this big. (Gesture 6 feet tall). His love for running and weightlifting had given him the physique of a young Adonis. He had turned out to be an extremely handsome and decent young man who was respected by everybody..
It’s times like these that make it exceptionally difficult for all of us. Each of us is born with a death in our future, but it is tragic when it comes too soon. Although I had experienced the loss of grandparents and older relatives, it wasn’t quite as bad, as it was their time. My first experience with real tragedy came when I was 19 and lost my mother. Even though it was horrible, I came away with especially comforting thoughts that have lasted me the rest of my life. She will always, and has always, lived on in my memory and in my soul. I dedicated myself to becoming a better person in honor of that and passed it on to my children.
So it is with Matt. He will always live on in all of our hearts and memories, and each one of us will be a little better for it. I’d like to start that now with a moment of silence, while each of us thinks back to the wonderful young man who has been taken from us in such an untimely fashion.
GLIMPSE OF AN ANGEL IS NOW AVAILABLE. A PORTION OF ALL SALES WILL GO TO HOSPICE TO THUS ENABLE THEM TO HELP OTHERS WHO ARE SOON TO PASS TO THE OTHER SIDE. NO LONGER AVAILABLE.
GLIMPSE OF AN ANGEL IS NOW AVAILABLE. A PORTION OF ALL SALES WILL GO TO HOSPICE TO THUS ENABLE THEM TO HELP OTHERS WHO ARE SOON TO PASS TO THE OTHER SIDE. NO LONGER AVAILABLE.
