Marine vet’s inspirational New Year’s Eve post turned out to be his last
On New Year's Eve millions turned to social media to share final thoughts for the year. Marine Corps veteran Matthew DeRemer was no different - except his last post of the year would also turn out to be the last post of his life.
That day he wrote this:
Last day of 2015!!!! For me I'll be meditating through all I do, on this entire year. I've lost, I've gained, family is closer and tougher than ever before, loved ones lost, and new friends found. There has been many times where I've been found on my knees in prayer for hours (relentless) and other times leading a group of people in prayer, my faith (that I love to share) is an everyday awakening (to me) that people, lives, and circumstances can change for the better OVER TIME. I look back at 2015's huge challenges that I've overcome, shared with others, and have once again found myself ... To say thank you and BRING ON 2016, much works to be done!And I really don't know where I'll end up tonight but I do know where I wind up is where I'm meant to be.
Matthew paired his words with a meme of author Gayle Foreman's quote: "We are born in one day. We die in one day. We can change in one day. And we can fall in love in one day. Anything can happen in just one day."
Hours later, while riding his motorcyle, the 31-year-old surgical technologist was struck and killed by an alleged drunk driver.
Since his death, DeRemer's post has been shared over 15,000 times inspiring hundreds of comments:
"RIP, my condolences go out to his family an friends, this post is amazing an says a lot," one wrote. "I don't know you but this post definitely has me thinking..."
Another wrote: "This is both disturbing yet incredibly poignant and beautiful."
During his time in the Corps DeRemer served in Iraq and was stationed in California.
"We called him "Jiff." He had an incredible love for peanut butter," said close friend Line Bryde Lorenzen. "He was a sergeant-at-arms, and he took that role very seriously. He helped me a lot with my faith, and was always there when I needed him."
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to help the family with their funeral expenses.
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