December 19, 2013 – From the office of Jim Stevens, GiftsToGive, CEO and Founder:
When I opened the newspaper that morning – there it was; Matthew Rodriguez, a 19 year old Marine from Fairhaven was killed in Afghanistan and was returning home that afternoon. How could that be? I read the story again, knowing the information would be the same, but subconsciously trying to process the worst kind of news there is.
I went out to the airport at 1pm, to be there when he came home.
New Bedford Airport
I met a friend at the airport, as we were talking, he pointed out the Barnstable Police Chief and told me that the Chief had lost a son in Afghanistan too.
Last year I met Matthew, in a group and for only a few seconds. when he was an 18 year old, Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School Senior. I am struck by the fact that the second time I was in his orbit, he was coming home, from a world away, as a fallen hero.
Lance Corporal
Matthew R. Rodriguez
I am deeply saddened, and cannot imagine what it must be like for Mathew’s family and his loved ones. There really are no words to express my sorrow or condolences. I do remember this though, in a book from my childhood – “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
On that same note, this brave young man made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve liberty for all of us and he must never be forgotten.