A Hero’s Farewell

June 29, 2004 - An IAFF hero, renowned poet, champion of peace and spirited teen, Mattie J.T. Stepanek was laid to rest at the Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery after a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Catherine LaBoure Catholic Church in Silver Spring, Maryland, on June 28, 2004. The ceremony was attended by IAFF General President and MDA Vice President Harold A. Schaitberger, IAFF-MDA National Coordinator Ron Kuley,  fire fighters, and thousands of admirers.

“Mattie’s legacy of courage and inspiration will continue to live and motivate all IAFF members for generations to come,” says Schaitberger. “His battle to survive and the will to defeat muscular dystrophy brought him closer to fire fighters who wage similar battles everyday against the fire. Mattie was an exceptional friend of the IAFF. His life made us feel proud and this hero’s death will make our 50-year-old bond even stronger.”

Mattie loved fire fighters. A fire fighter truck from Montgomery Co., MD Local 1664 carried Mattie's casket to the cemetery. Fire fighter honor guards from Local 1664, Montgomery County, MD 1664, Fairfax County, VA Local 2068, Anne Arundel County, MD Local 1663, Howard County, MD Local 2000 and Fredrick County, MD Local 3666 accompanied Mattie’s casket to the cemetery in Maryland.

The casket was covered with fire fighter bumper stickers. Two fire trucks were parked at the entrance of the Gate of Heaven Cemetery with their ladders extended into an arch, and an American flag hanging at the top between them. A fire fighter honor guard was also present outside the church. Other locals in attendance were Prince George’s County, MD Local 1619, Baltimore City, MD Local 734, Baltimore City Fire Officers, MD Local 964, Baltimore County, MD Local 1311, and Washington DC Local 36.

The IAFF 47th Biennial Convention in Boston will honor the memory of MDA National Goodwill ambassador Mattie Stepanek while celebrating IAFF-MDA’s 50 years of friendship and support to MDA. In addition, the 2004 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, September 5-6, will be dedicated to Mattie.

Former President Jimmy Carter delivered the eulogy for Mattie. Famed talk show host Oprah Winfrey, Entertainment Tonight correspondent and member of MDA’s Board of Directors Jann Carl , Lord of the Rings star Sean Astin, and television talk show host Montel Williams were among mourners who spoke about Mattie before the funeral mass.

Stepanek, 13, died on June 22, 2004, at Children's National Medical Center, in Washington, DC after a lifelong struggle with Mitochondrial Myopathy, a form of Muscular Dystrophy. Mattie died surrounded by his mother, Jeni, and close friends.

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Photo courtesy NBC-4