For the third time in a short while, Good Shepherd Catholic Church held services to lay to rest yet another victim of the recent wave of terrorism.
Last year they held services for Steven Jacoby and Gary Smith, victims of the Sept. 11 attack on the Pentagon. On Monday, March 11, exactly six months after the attack, a Mass of Christian Burial was held for Matthew Allen Commons, son of Greg Commons and Patricia Marek. He was killed March 4 during a helicopter mission in Afghanistan.
The church was filled with friends and family, many of whom didn’t even know Matthew Commons, but wanted to express their sympathy to his family. With father Greg Commons teaching at Carl Sandburg Middle School and step-brothers Thomas and Patrick attending Waynewood Elementary School and Stratford Landing Elementary School, respectively, the effects were far-reaching.
Father Joe Annese came from Boulder City, Nevada, to serve as the concelebrant and homilist with Father Escalante. The first reading was done by Greg’s brother, Tom Commons. It was Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, which reads in part, “A time to laugh, a time to cry. A time for death, a time for living. A time for war, a time for peace...”
First Lieutenant Joe Burkhardt, a fellow Ranger who served as the liaison from the army, read the second reading, which spoke about being baptized until death” and the “newness of life.”
In his homily, Annese said, “There are no human words that will chase away our sorrow. No song to assuage our pain. No poetry to satisfy our peace.”
Yet, in reflecting on the reading by Ecclesiastes, he said, “These are the words that help us find meaning.” He concluded by saying that Matthew is now in a place where he is loved.
BURIAL AT ARLINGTON
While many would say their good-byes to Matthew at Good Shepherd, a large contingent would continue on with the family to Arlington National Cemetery for Matthew’s burial service.
A procession of over 100 cars proceeded down the GW Parkway through Old Town and into Arlington. All traffic was halted on Alexandria streets and surrounding access roads, including those from Reagan Washington National Airport.
At the service, it was said that Matthew was “known for honesty, patriotism and love of God and Man... His dedication and duty fulfills the Ranger creed.” Matthew’s family was presented with a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star for valor and a Meritorious Service Medal which were awarded to their son posthumously. He was also honored by being promoted to corporal prior to the service.
A baby’s cry broke the stillness reminding us there is indeed “A time for death, a time for living.”
PRAYERS AND CANDLE VIGIL
The burial was one of the last public events in a long stream of appearances which Matthew’s family had made during the past week, including television shows and prayer services. They returned to Good Shepherd for a reception where all of Matthew’s awards were displayed.
The Commons had originally scheduled one prayer service for Sunday, but then realizing that one was not enough, they added an additional viewing for friends and students from Carl Sandburg Middle School during the day. From 2-4 p.m. at Jefferson Funeral Chapel, there was a steady flow of people not only from Sandburg, but from Stratford Landing and Waynewood as well, including Principal Nancy Coughlan and Assistant Principal Maura Caulfield.
The prayer service that was held at the same chapel that evening had many of Matthew’s friends and fellow Rangers in attendance. At the prayer service, Matthew was remembered as a person who enjoyed life and liked to have fun. During his homily, Annese mentioned the prayer service by saying, “At the Sunday memorial service friends celebrated his life.”
With a relatively brief timeframe to bring everybody together, the Commons family had many people to thank for making arrangements. Greg said that Burkhardt was instrumental in helping with leave and travel arrangements so that many of Matthew’s friends could come to the area to pay their respects. At a candlelight tribute held the evening of the burial, Burkhardt said that he was honored to serve as the liaison, but saddened as well.
The candlelight vigil was organized by neighbors from the Wellington neighborhood where Greg Commons resides with Linda Chapman and their two sons, Patrick and Thomas. Over a hundred people assembled for a short ceremony on the stone bridge which crosses the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Greg thanked everybody for their support and Diane Frazier led the group in “God Bless America.” Many left with their candles still light, while several others left their lighted candles behind on the bridge, lighting up the darkness.
A Matthew A. Commons scholarship fund has been established at his old high school. Contributions can be sent to: St. Andrews Catholic Community, 1399 San Felipe Dr., Boulder City, Nev., 89005, Attn: Father Joseph P. Annese.