Because The Soldier Made Our Country Free

Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek was born on July 17, 1990. Mattie had a disability called dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy. Despite the challenges of his disability, Mattie found a way to meet them head on without ever losing his ability to find the joy and beauty in each day of his life. Mattie was so young when he began writing and yet, he was wise beyond his years. He was a prolific writer, poet and storyteller. Mattie passed away on the morning of June 22, 2004. Mattie wanted to be remembered as "a poet, a peacemaker and a philosopher who played."

Today on Memorial Day, I want to leave you with a poem that was written by Mattie about Memorial Day and what it meant to him. He was only three years old when he wrote this poem.
This poem is posted to honor Mattie's memory and those of the soldiers who have given their lives for this country.

Memorial Day

This is a holiday
That means we are free.
We can run and play.
We can have food and friends,
Because the soldier
Made our country free.
I like living in
The United States of America,
And in Maryland.
And because this is a holiday,
That means we are free
And should go to the donut store.

by Mattie J.T. Stepanek
(Used with permission from Celebrate Through Heartsongs, Hyperion, 2002)
To learn more about Mattie, please visit his website at mattieonline.com