To the Editor:
In the darkest hours, friends, family, and complete strangers can lift us up in love. This rang true following the untimely death of our youngest son Matthew on February 24. Matt was a healthy, athletic 16-year-old; an exuberant soul who packed each day with moments of compassion and excellence. He found ways to connect with everyone he met.
We celebrated Matt’s legacy with spontaneous and generous support from old friends and new in Great Falls and the surrounding communities. When #poynerstrong emerged as a window into social media messages of grief and condolence we were comforted. Photo buttons, green and gold ribbons, wristbands and “red outs” gave us a reason to smile. The staff at St. Thomas a Becket Church scrambled to host hundreds of mourners at Matt’s funeral mass and the staff at McLean Bible Church opened their doors for a celebration service where friends and family paid tribute in words and music to Matt’s memory.
Counselors and administrators at Langley and Paul VI high schools tended to the emotional and spiritual needs of Matt’s friends, as did his Young Life leaders. The Northern Virginia baseball community, Great Falls Basketball and Great Falls Little League all recognized his commitment and leadership both in and out of the game.
Memorial Foundation
A memorial foundation has been established to support community initiatives that reflect Matt’s compassionate and competitive spirit.
Donations may be mailed to:
Matthew Vernon Poyner Memorial Foundation
P.O. Box 30
Great Falls, VA 22066
The unexpected loss of a young life is hard to understand. For Matt’s friends, the shock of losing a friend was tempered by the opportunity to talk and share their feelings about Matt and about life in general.
I want to believe that through their grief each person found the peace and strength to live their life with the same exuberance that Matt led his.
As sad as our loss is, we have new memories thanks to the outpouring of love, support celebrating his short life. We are grateful for this gift. We have a renewed appreciation for the sincere generosity of this community he loved and we say thank you with open arms.
The Poyner Family
Great Falls