Matthew DeRemer Inspires Thousands With Chilling Words Posted Hours Before Death


Iraq war veteran Matthew DeRemer, like most people, saw the New Year as a time to reflect on 2015 and think about goals and aspirations for the coming months.

On the morning of New Year’s Eve, DeRemer took to Facebook to share his plans for 2016 with friends and family, resolving in a touching post to become a better man in the coming year.

Sadly, he’ll never get the chance to fulfill those wishes.

Only a few hours later, Matthew, 31, was dead, killed in a car crash while driving his motorcycle close to his home in Florida, NBC News reported.

Now, a Facebook post that otherwise would’ve been simply inspiring for his circle of friends has become a viral sensation not just because of its message — of faith, gratitude, and self-improvement — but also because his words are now haunting in light of his tragic death.

DeRemer was a decorated former Marine corporal who served during the Iraq War and left the military in 2010. He approached 2016 with a new job, a stronger faith, and a drive to help people. His sister, Lynsey DeRemer, said he’d just transitioned in his career from a physical trainer to a surgical technician, giving him new hope in his professional life.

And in 2015, she said he’d also grown closer to God and had become an officer in a Christian motorcycle group. His friends and family are now starting 2016 by mourning Matthew’s death, which Lynsey said has touched strangers moved by the optimism and faith demonstrated in his final Facebook post.

“We knew he had a very big personality,” she said. “He was like a magnet for people. But to see the kind of testimony he had, it does give us peace.”

Matthew’s post spoke of a hardship in 2015 and new hope for 2016, according to People.

“Last day of 2015!!!!” DeRemer wrote. “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.”

Even more poignant was a quote Matthew posted alongside his touching words, WFLA added: “We are born in 1 day. We die in 1 day. We can change in 1 day. And we can fall in love in 1 day. Anything can happen in just 1 day.”

Little did DeRemer know, that quote would prove true for him in only a few hours. By 7:55 p.m. that night, Matthew was traveling along 102nd Avenue North in Largo, Florida, when he passed through the intersection of 98/97th Street North. According to Fox13, Steven Clarke, 59, failed to yield while turning left and crashed into Matthew’s motorcycle. Clarke was allegedly driving drunk.

DeRemer was declared dead on the scene and Clarke was immediately arrested.

Since then, a roadside memorial has been set up at the accident site, where friends and family have gathered to say kind words about Matthew and his inspirational personality.

“He was awesome. No words can describe how he was. How full of energy he was. He was just a ray of sunshine,” said friend Neysa Shilling. ?”Words can not express what he wrote. Like it was to the point of what was going to happen to him and it’s incredible. His tattoo on his forearm you know John 14:12 that he’s gonna be with the Father and I know that’s where he’s at. My angel has wings now.”

Meanwhile, Matthew DeRemer’s final words on Facebook are continuing to affect strangers. One person admitted that his words “definitely has me thinking about a lot,” while another said his final sentence “will be an inspiration and encouragement to me.”

[Photo via Matthew DeRemer/Facebook]

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