The Department of Defense reports a total of 125 service members, employees and contract workers died in the September 11 attack on the Pentagon building. The horror of that day will never be forgotton. We lost our only son; Matthew, that day.

   First, I'll introduce myself. My name is Sheila and I'm married to a wonderful man; Mike. In 1979 we had a beautiful baby boy and we named him Matthew Michael. He weighed 6lbs 6 ozs and was 19.5 inches long.

   He was a good child. Hate to say kid because like my Mom always said a kid is a billy goat. Matt was the apple of my mothers eye. She had 10 other grandchildren, but Matt was the one she saw all the time, and she spoiled him rotten. One example of this where Mike always had a rule around our house none of the sugarery cereals, well when Matt was at my Moms whatever cereal her grandson Matt wanted he got. My Mom never drove and I would always take her to do the shopping, and when we would get to the stores we asked Matt whose cart he wanted to ride in, well needless to say it was GRANDMOMS! Well, he is with his Grandmom now and I know she is taking good care of him. I'm sure the day of Sept 11th, she was there right by his side, and took his hand and told him everything would be ok.

   Matt didn't have what you would say a 'normal upbringing'. What I mean, is that, our families never got together for holidays and things. Matt hardly knew any of his Aunts and Uncles, that well, except my one brother Bobby who lives right here in Delaware. I know deep down that when he heard his friends talking of getting together for holidays with their cousins and other family members it must have hurt alot. If I had it to do all over again, I would strive to bring our families together.

   Well after the terrible events of Sept 11th when Matt was taken from us, my family and Mike's family have been wonderful. My older brother and I, who I was never very close with, have gotten much closer, and you know what? it feels good and I'm so sorry and so are they that Matt never got to know them, and they never really got to know Matt. One of my nieces who lives in Hawaii went in Matt's room one day during the time they came home for Matt's funeral and starting crying looking at the posters on the wall and hearing some of the things Matt enjoyed, Tracie said they would have been best of friends.

   Matt did enjoy the life he had while here, at least I think he did. If anything ever bothered him he never really told us, I think he shared alot with his close friends but not his Dad and me. Matt touched many lives in his short lifetime, as you can see on some of the stories you read here on these pages. I know that Matt would want Mike and I to carry on with our lives, but its not easy for either of us to do. Matt meant everything in the world to me and Mike. We lost a chance to ever see him marry, have our grandchildren and also no one to carry the family name.

   I want all of you who visit this page to remember to reach out to your loved ones every day, because the ability to do it could be taken from you at anytime.

   I want to thank Erin for doing this wonderful webpage in memory of Matt. I also want to thank all my Navy-Mom family for the support and love they have given to Mike and I. I have some adopted Navy-sons and Navy-daughters now, and they all are very special to me.

Callin' all Angels, Callin' all Angels, Walk us thru this one, don't leave us alone. Callin' all Angels, Callin' all Angels, We're trying, we're hoping, but we're not sure how.... Callin' all Angels, Callin' all Angels, We're crying, we're calling, because we're not sure how this goes.....