June 28, 2004

by Tara Wood

Poet, peacemaker and precocious teen Mattie J.T. Stepanek was laid to rest in Maryland today in a ceremony befitting an icon, while people across the nation continued to pay tribute and celebrate the 13-year-old MDA National Goodwill Ambassador’s remarkable life and spirit.

Celebrities, Mattie’s friends and loved ones, and other admirers made up the thousands who gathered at St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Church in Wheaton, Md., to remember, honor and laugh at memories of Mattie, who wowed the world with his message of peace, hope and courage.

Former President Jimmy Carter delivered the eulogy for Mattie, with whom he’d enjoyed a friendship since the two met in 2002 and bonded over their passion for peacemaking.

Carter said he’d traveled to 122 foreign countries and met kings and queens, but Mattie was “the most extraordinary person I ever met.”

Carter also talked about how the youngster had teased and consoled him when Mattie’s wildly popular “Heartsongs” poetry books rose higher on the best-seller charts than Carter's own books.

CELEBRITY ADMIRERS
Famed talk show host Oprah Winfrey was among mourners who spoke about Mattie before the funeral mass. Other speakers were Jann Carl, “Entertainment Tonight” correspondent and member of MDA’s Board of Directors; and Dr. Murray M. Pollack of Children’s Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in Washington, where Mattie spent several months.

Also in attendance were actor Sean Astin, who starred in the “Lord of the Rings” films (among Mattie’s favorites), TV talk show host Montel Williams, and Harold Schaitberger, general president of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).

Winfrey said she often swapped e-mails with Mattie after the two struck up a friendship when he first appeared on her show in 2001.

She joked about how Mattie “volunteered” his advice about her plans for retirement after 20 years in television. Mattie told her it wasn’t a good idea and that she should reconsider — a decision she ultimately agreed with.

Carl, who got to know Mattie when he appeared live on the 2002 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, remarked that she felt she’d “met a real angel” and that Mattie was someone that “God had given back to the earth.” She also read “Ode to Mattie” written by MDA National Chairman Jerry Lewis, who couldn’t attend the services because of health issues.

In today’s ceremony, Carl’s daughter, Katherine Sears, carried Mattie’s second poetry book, “Journey Through Heartsongs.”

Also during the service, teenage singing sensation and MDA National Youth Chairman Billy Gilman performed the song “For Our World.” The song was from the album “Music Through Heartsongs” that the two teens collaborated on last year and sets Mattie’s words to music.

During all the events, Jeni Stepanek, Mattie’s mom, was accompanied by her son’s loyal service dog, Micah.

MDA TRIBUTES
The day was marked with tributes in connection with Mattie’s service to MDA. Gestures and ceremonial touches were especially visible from members of the IAFF and Harley-Davidson motorcycle enthusiasts, both stalwart supporters of MDA and organizations that were dear to Mattie.

Mourners lined the streets leading to the church, many carrying signs that read “We Love You, Mattie” and “God Bless You, Mattie” as Mattie’s casket passed by on a fire truck.

The casket was covered with Harley-Davidson and fire fighter bumper stickers, and draped with a United Nations flag.

Hundreds of parked Harley-Davidson motorcycles also lined the streets leading to the church, which had been closed to traffic for the event.

Two fire trucks were parked at the entrance of the Gate of Heaven Cemetery with their ladders extended into an arch, with an American flag hanging at the top between them. A fire fighter honor guard was present outside the church after the service.

At the graveside, dozens of balloons were released into the sky, with cards attached carrying wishes written by campers from a nearby MDA summer camp that Mattie had attended.

The balloons are a tradition of the campers, who have neuromuscular diseases and live in the Baltimore-Washington area. Mattie’s camp counselor Devin Dressman spoke at the graveside service. Mattie was laid to rest next to his three siblings who died in early childhood.

Then, a single balloon with a blank card meant for Mattie was released into the sky, so he might make his own wish.

INTERNATIONAL IMPACT

While solemn ceremony was forefront in Maryland, the ripples of Mattie’s impact and measures of his fame continue to be seen and felt across the nation.

Three helicopters from the major television networks buzzed overhead while covering the memorial events, and dozens of media satellite and microwave trucks were at the scene.

Comments and reactions to Mattie’s life, message, and his passing have poured into MDA’s Web site, www.mda.org, from around the world. The site has seen more than 50,000 visits since his death on June 22.

The 2004 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, Sept. 5-6, will be dedicated to Mattie, and MDA employees nationwide observed a moment of silence at 11 a.m. in every U.S. time zone to honor his memory.

Some of the most heartfelt words about this remarkable boy came from his mother, Jeni Stepanek, in an e-mailed message to MDA in memory of her son.

“You are my best friend, and I always have been and always will be proud of you, my son. Thank you for the coffee, the foot massages, the snuggles, the conversations, the inspiration, the motivation, the laughter, the tears, the prayers, the dreams you shared, and for the gift of celebrating life,” she wrote.