Well, I'm all packed, ready to go back to Germany. I'm eager to get back to work, especially to go back to Germany, where I first 'met' you. I know you are with me, guiding me in caring for the Soldiers and their families, bringing what comfort I can. There's no way for me to express how much you have changed my life, even though we'd not met. My mission, my inspiration, my calling has come to me from Spirit, through you, and the day I attended your memorial service in Hanau. You are the angel on my shoulder, and I hope you will continue to assist me in easing the pain of those who are suffering. Travel with me now, friend, and let us do good work together.
Karen
A letter for my best friend and a message to the Murchison family / Josh Jones (Friend)
To Matt i just want to say that even though you will always be here in spirit I will always miss your company as will I cherish the many good memories we have together I will always have of our friendship and you will always have a place in my heart. I am so sorry we fell out of contact when you left on your tour I wsh we could have kept in touch better over the past couple of years. I love you as if you were my own brother and you will always be remembered by my family and I as not only a brother to me and practically a member of our family but also as a true hero who made the ultimate sacrifice doing what he always wanted to do. We will see you on the other side my friend. My family and I love ya buddy.
To the Murchison Family, Matt was a true friend to me over the years and was always a joy to have around as he made memorable impressions on me and a lot of my family. He was always there for me through the good times and bad. Though I know he had his troublesome times he was an all around great man. He will be missed and we are all deeply sorry for your loss and my family and I wish you all the best. Take care.
Sincerely, Josh Jones and family
Christmas/ Dad Well Son it is our first Christmas without you. I have really tried to get some sort of Christmas Spirit however it just isn't there. I really miss you very much. I keep thinking about our last Christmas in 2005 together and you exclaimed "This is the best Christmas ever". You know it really was. Mom and Melissa are also struggling to get some sort of Christmas spirit but we all really miss you and your smirky little smile. The Holidays will never be the same, however we will struggle to get some sort of Christmas spirit next year. Who knows I might even put up a tree for you. I am extremely proud of you and miss you so much. Love Dad
Merry Christmas / Aunt Heidi Matt,
I'm sure that Granny has the toilet seats and light switches in Heaven all decked out for Christmas! She's a lot of fun this time of year. I'm glad you're with each other.
We miss you both terribly. This time of year is hard, especially because you pick up the phone to talk and sometimes the person you call isn't there. I didn't get to talk to you last year because you were in Iraq already, so I'm a year ahead of the eight ball there. But, to know that I can talk to you whenever I want now is very cool.
Take care of your Mom, Dad and Sa. They'll need your strength...that big "American Hero" strength. Especially watch over Poppy. He's having a very rough time and he needs some peace.
Give that mother of mine a big Christmas kiss for me and for Ainsley.
Have fun at the party. I hear it's the best!
Love you, Aunt Heidi
Merry Christmas / Ralph Perry (Uncle) Well Matt it is Christmas time and most of us are a little down in the dumps here. Just wanted to drop a line and say Merry Christmas Bud. Tell my Mom I miss here very much. Mike,Deb and Melissa, Have a good christmas I will be thinking of you guys. Love Ya
MISSING YOU / Mike (Dad) You have really been on my mind this week. Such memories. It really doesn't seem like four months. I really miss talking to you. I still have your last three messages on my phone-don't want to forget the sound of your voice. I love and miss you so much. Love Dad.
Another month passes bye / Melissa (Sis) Hey honey! Well, it's been four months and I'm still as clueless as ever. Sometimes it feels like forever since you left and other times it feels like it was yesterday. I feel like I'm slowly learning to live on without you, but you still creep into my mind every day of my life. Losing you has helped me learn how to live my life, in a way. I feel like I know some secret that no one else does. I look at everything so differently and it's actually been quite good for me in a lot of ways. I'm not looking forward to the holidays at all. Thanksgiving was wierd, but I know Christmas is going to be the hardest for me. Please let me know you're still around sometimes. I miss you sooo much Matt. I love you
Sa
4 months / Mom (Mother) Baby, I know you hate when I call you that but you still are my baby. Well, today is 4 months since you moved on. I hope you are happy and safe in God's arms. I hope Granny is taking care of you, too. The Holidays are upon us and yea, it sucks pretty bad. Poppy is a little down of course and we are as well. I see so many things now I want to buy you for Christmas like a Simpson calendar....LOL and I guess you will need to give me the address to heaven so I can send it to you. I miss you so much, Matt. Really bad. Melissa and I are hanging as much as we can and Dad talks to me pretty much every day. He is doing good I guess. Little Freddy's birthday party is next week so we will be going to party with him.....yahoo. A baby party. No, he is soooooo cute. Anyway, I just want to write to you before I headed to work. I love and miss you and wish I could have a hug. I know, you do, every day. Ok, I love you and I will talk to you soon. Love, Mom
I spent the day today in the company of thousands of veterans on the Mall in Washington, DC. I thought of Matt all day, not because I knew him, but because I had been to his Memorial in Hanau, counseled those in the 127th MPs that Matthew left behind. After Colin Powell spoke at the 25th re-dedication of the Vietnam Veterans wall, and the ceremony closed, a huge banner was rolled out by the Gold Star Mothers. For those of you who don't know, the Gold Star Mothers are those who have lost a child in Combat. The Banner was a tribute to all those who had fallen in the Global War on Terror. I was compelled to move forward and look for Matthew's name, and it was there. I slowly reached forward to touch it, thoughtful of all of you, his family and friends, who would've wanted to know that his name was there, in our Capitol, on this day of rememberance.
Matthew, Thank You for your Service.
And to the Murchinsons, and Matt's Family and Friends, Thank You for Your Sactifice.
Karen House Military Family Life Consultant
The True Ruff Ryders for Life!! / Tim Rex (Fellow Soldier )
Murch,
It still seems like yesterday that I was told about the convoy. I was only one day out from seeing you all again after I had to make the move. You all were the reason I wanted to stop over before I went on leave anyways. I wanted to be able to hang out with my former Soldiers again and just get a piece of that feeling back. I can remember the first day I seen you smiling all goofy in that Hollister shirt. The only reason I remember is because it was me that picked you for first platoon. "Hollister, you are coming with me!" That is what I yelled at you. From then on you were a Ruff Ryder and we had some ups and some downs but I gotta tell you I miss every moment of it. You gave the ultimate sacrifice for your country but mostly for the Soldier that was to the left of you and to the right. I never once had a complaint about how eager and willing you were to help out others. I just am praying for your family daily that they may know peace.
3 months / Mom Good morning, sweetie,
Today is 3 months since you left us. I hope things are wonderful with you up there. I know you are with Granny and everyone. I hope you and all the HERO'S are drinking and having a party every day. You all deserve it.
I went to Andrew's welcome home party last night and it was nice but I would have enjoyed it more, knowing we would be having that for you someday.
We are doing fine. I think I got over being mad. I still wonder why, but I will get that answer when I do. I got my apartment decorated and it looks nice. Pictures of you and Sa....all over the place.
OK...just wanted to write and tell you I am thinking of you, as always. Keep helping us to deal with this and I think things will be all right.
Oh, why did they cut the tree down at your grave???? No more shade and breeze. I am gonna complain...you know me.
I love you, Matt and we all miss you. Take care of yourself and kiss everyone for us.
Love you so much, Mom
Just thinkin / Melissa (Sister) Hey you. So I just got back from Cali yesterday. Did a lot of thinking about you during my trip. It was amazing to see how Andrew was welcomed home. I wish more than anything that you could've had that. I know your birthday was quite the mess, but just know that most of the time, I'm good at keeping things in tact. Then there are the other times, when I just lose it all. I'm slowly trying to teach myself to live on without you, but at the same time, I don't want to. I feel like no one gets it but us and I know that you're still with me through it. It fucking sucks Matt. I'm doing my best to keep everyone and everything going. You left me quite a load. I'm sorry for not being home for your b-day, but I know you understand what's up. Those Marines... Well, I just wanted to get out some thoughts. I miss you sooo much and that's one thing that I know will never go away. Keep me goin and help me out when I'm being stupid (we know that's quite often!) I love you Matt
Twenty-two years ago I remember how anxious you were to be born. Your Mom kept telling me it was time and I said no not yet. Well anyway we got to the Hospital at about 11:30PM 10/10/85 and at 12:22AM 10/11/85 you were here. I cried when I saw you for the first time, just as I did when Melissa was born. I guess you had alot to accomplish in a short amount of time that was why you were in such a hurry. All through your childhood you always wanted to follow me around and do things with me. We got to go to alot of places like the Baseball Hall of Fame, several KC Royals games, vacations to New York, and numerous truck trips. I am just so thankful that we got to do so many things together. Alot of families don't have the chances we did and we made the most of them. It is hard not having you with me to talk to, but I know God had greater plans for you. Jason and I drank the last two beers of the six pack you bought last year and put balloons on your grave. I am very proud of what you accomplished in your short life and just hope I can live long enough to be half the man you were. I love you and miss you. Happy Birthday Matt. Love Dad
Happy Birthday, Sweetie / Mom Matt, I am writing this tonight, like Aunt Heidi said, it might not get said tomorrow. Happy Birthday, sweetie.
I just finished talking to Sa...and she had a rough day today. She is feeling sad and I know how she is feeling. I am not sure I will be able to deal with tomorrow, but I am going to try very hard, knowing you would want me to. I remember last year when you called me lame, for getting your Army cake and the blowers and the Army stuff, but now, I wish I had all those things to remind me of the fun time we had. I know you really got a little drunk that night and I hope you enjoyed the evening. I know I enjoyed watching you and Natalie and her parents and all the Tanner's girls. I was so proud of you and am even more proud of you today. I just wish though, I could hold you and tell you in person. I miss you so much Matt, that it hurts.
I went back to work. Not at the center but I am now a Nanny for a very nice famil. They have 2 children who are so sweet and a boy who reminds me a little of you. It keeps me very busy and I like the family and my hours. I think working, will help me deal with you being gone. I don't want you to think I will forget you. I can and will never be able to do that. Ever!!! You are in my heart always. I will go to the cememtery tomorrow after work to see you.
So, for now, I want to say Happy 22nd Birthday. I hope you and Granny celebrate in style. Know I wish I was with you but you are with me in my heart. I love you, Matt and I miss you so damn much. Love you, Mom
I wanted to get this over with today, because I think that Thursday will be too hard. It's been a really rough week or so in our family. It started on the fourth with your anniversary, and it was also Nanny's anniversary. She's been gone 13 years. Then on the 5th, it was Nanny's birthday. On the 6th we had Granny's anniversary and now we're coming up on your birthday. WHEW.
We're all glad Sa got to Cali okay. I wonder who carried her off the plane! I talk to your mom every day for the most part. She's doing very well, Matt. She's going back to work tomorrow, and that's a BIG deal. At least the kids are smart and cute. If they were ugly dumb asses, I don't think she'd do too well.
Poppy is doing okay. He's really thinking hard about getting his boxer dog now. I hope Granny isn't too offended when he names it "EJ" after her.
As for us here, we're doing okay too. I'm going to be starting back to work here hopefully in the next week or so. Uncle Bill is working hard and Ainsley is, well, she's Ainsley. You and Granny having fun making her torment me? I BET you are!
Oh yeah, I never thanked you for making that bottle of Jaegermeister almost $50 in the hotel at your funeral. If I gotten that bottle, I think I'd still be drunk now. I know that YOU knew I wouldn't have been able to handle it!
Well, I know you're happy and peaceful. I can FEEL it. I know Granny's taking good care of you because in the dream I had about her, she looked AWESOME. She'll keep your ass in line! We miss ya, Buddy. But, we know you're around.
It has been 2 Months already. The pain is easier to handle but it is still there and will be forever. I miss you so much that words can't explain. I hope we have done everything as you would have wanted and I hope your friends have too. Andrew comes home from Iraq on Monday and Melissa will be there to welcome him home. It will be a bittersweet event for her. I really look forward to the day that we meet again and pray that you are at peace. We got the pictures from the President that his aides took the day we met him in KC. We attended the Memorial Service for all the MP's fallen in the line of duty during the last year. They honored PFC Farrar, Sgt Horner, you and forty seven other MP's who have fallen. We will put a brick on the Memorial Walk Way at Memorial Grove at Ft Leonard Wood in your memory. Your birthday is coming this thursday the 11th and Jason, Mom and I are going to watch the Simpson's Movie and drink the last two beers of the six pack you bought on your 21st birthday. Now that was a party to remember and we will forever. We still haven't gotten the Official Report on what happened to you yet. We are still waiting on your stuff from Germany too. We will be okay and pray that you are too. I love you son and miss you more that words can explain. Love Dad
THINKING OF YOU / Dave &. Susie Kostelec (friends of Melissa and Parents of CPL Andrew Kostelec, U.S. Marines )
Melissa, we think of you always, and wish you and your family healing in your loss of Matt. We know he looks down on you proudly from above, and can see he did not die in vain, that we all are eternally grateful for the sacrifices he and all of our soldiers have made for our freedom. As you all know, we look forward to our Andrew coming home from Iraq in October. We hope and pray for the safe return of all who are still there. We Love You, The Kostelec Family
Missing You / Melissa (Sister) Ok Matt, well it's been almost 7 weeks now and we're trying to keep on going. You'd be sooo proud of how well Mom and Dad are handling all this. I, on the other hand, seem to be getting worse as the time goes on. Slowly it's setting in that you are really gone. I miss you more than I could ever be able to say. I don't even feel like myself anymore, just some robot trying to go through life without you. We met Wilkerson last week, and it was the best and hardest thing to do. That guy loves you so much and I see now why you guys were so close. He's amazing, and he's helped us so much in the little time he was here. It was hard saying goodbye to him, cause it just brought back memories of saying bye to you. I'm doing my best to take care of everyone, and make sure that we make it through this. It's just hard to know that the pain isn't gonna go away. Just please watch over us and let me know you're ok. Keep the good dreams coming, but try to keep the bad ones away, that's what eats at me more than anything else. I love you baby, and know that you're constantly on my mind. I miss you Matt!
Love, Sa Sa
heartfelt condolences.... / Amanda Taylor (wife of SGT Taylor 127 MP CO )
Words can't express my sorrow for your loss. Our country has lost a great hero as well. May God give your family, friends, and fellow soldiers peace,
Sadness of Sacrifice / Neal Dillon (Devotion to Duty ) We are the parents and brothers of Marine Corporal Matthew Vincent Dillon who was KIA on 11Dec06 in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. As you suffer the sadness of sacrifice of your beloved Matthew, we continue to suffer the sadness of sacrifice of ours. The myth that "Time heals all wounds" is just that, a myth. Time may heal the outward apperance of the loss of our sons but the inner wounds will never heal. Thats OK, for when you truly love someone your wounds are everlasting. Take proud in them.
In our discussions with the family, Mrs. Dillon and I discovered that our two Matthews had many things in common. Just to mention a few . . . love of family and country, sense of humor, dedication to duty, plans to become a policeman, love of their brother warriors and many more. With these common traits in mind, I believe the following poem read at Matthew's burial would equally apply to your Matthew.
Do Not Weep For Me
You can shed tears now that I am gone, or you can smile because I have lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that I will come back, or you can open your eyes and see all I have left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see me, or it can be full of the love we shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live for yesterday, or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remembver me and only that I'm gone, or you can cherish my memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back, or you can do what I'd want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
May God continue to bless our troops, their families and the United States of America.
Tributes and Condolences
Matt,
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