Sgt. Anthony Matteoni

“When he shall die, take him and cut him out in little stars, and he will make the face of heaven so fine that all the world will be in love with night and pay no worship to the garish sun.”

—William Shakespeare

Tony was one of the best men I’ve ever met. Not just a great Marine, not just a great leader. He was so much more than all of those—he was just a great man. Tony’s story will be told to as many people as possible, and his undying resolve and endless compassion and kindness will be virtues to spread around the world as we do our best to live up to his memory.

—Stephan Fournier

Tony was born April 6, 1988 to parents Dennis and Angela Matteoni in Orlando, Florida. As he grew up, Tony and his older sister welcomed three little brothers into to the family. His parents met and worked at Disney World; Tony always talked about how amazing his childhood was, “I mean, what kid doesn’t want to grow up at Disney?!” he’d say. For his middle school years, the family moved to Union City, Michigan where Tony met some of his dearest friends. During his 9th grade year, Tony and his best friend went to South Haven Beach where he and his now wife Lindsy exchanged email addresses for the first time. He ran track, earned his varsity jacket, and graduated from Union City High School in 2006. After celebrating, he moved with his family to Orlando, Florida where he worked at Disney World for the summer. Kids always asked him for a signature; dressed in a cowboy outfit with auburn hair and freckles, everyone thought he was Woody from Disney’s “Toy Story.” He made a quick trip to Michigan in August 2006 when he and Lindsy started dating, and then headed off to boot camp for the United States Marine Corps. Tony completed training for Security Forces and was stationed at Bangor Naval Base in Washington State. The summer of 2008 was a big one. He left the country for the first time to train with the Royal Marines in England, and had way too much fun. Then, on July 19, 2008 he flew to Michigan where he and Lindsy were married and enjoyed spending time with his entire family. In August of 2009 Tony received military orders to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina where he joined the 2nd Battalion 6th Marines and trained for a deployment to Afghanistan. Over the following months, he and his wife lived together and spent every holiday with his family in Florida. On April 2, 2010, he was promoted meritoriously and became Sgt. Anthony Matteoni. In June, the couple found out they are expecting their first child, and the next day Tony was on his way to Afghanistan. Lindsy was able to tell him they would welcome a daughter into the world after her ultrasound on September 30. After a day of excitement and imagining life with a baby girl, Tony died while conducting combat operations in Afghanistan on October 1, 2010.

I hate to see you cry lying there in that position. There are things you need to hear, so turn off your tears and listen. Pain throws your heart to the ground. Love turns the whole thing around. No, it won’t all go the way it should, but I know the heart of life is good.

You know it’s nothing new. Bad news never had good timing. Then the circle of your friends will defend the silver lining. Pain throws your heart to the ground. Love turns the whole thing around. No, it won’t all go the way it should, but I know the heart of life is good.

—John Mayer

Tony was in my fifth hour class my first year of teaching. Even though it was my first year, I remember him being very respectful to me. He was a great kid, very personable; he had a good sense of humor and was sneaky smart, meaning he was very smart, but I don’t think he wanted everyone to know that! I always had to smile at his smirk because I never knew if he was up to something, pulling some prank, or was just happy to be in government . . . probably not the case. He was a very honorable man.

—John Bain

Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there. I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning’s hush, I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry—I am not there. I did not die.

—Mary Frye as quoted by David Schaeffer

Tony was an amazing person, and an even greater Marine. I have always looked up to him with the greatest and upmost respect. He was a good friend of mine and an amazing role model—he was well known for taking care of his Marines and his willingness to put others before himself. He actually bought me my first beer on my 21st birthday.

—Sam Gipson

Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is as strong as death, passion fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If one offered for love all the wealth of this house, it would be utterly scorned.

—Song of Songs 8:6-7

As a proud military wife and widow, I offer you this:

Husbands, hold your wives every chance you get. Military wives, write more letters than you think you should send. Cherish every moment, even when you encounter the hardest minutes of your life.

So, in honor of Tony’s hero, Dennis; in honor of Angie, his angel; in honor of his brothers Joey, Mikey, and Kyle, his sister, Melody, his family and friends; in honor of Anthony Dennis Matteoni, I’ve decided to pass his initials to our daughter, Avery Danielle.

—Lindsy Matteoni

“Cast me gently into morning, for the night has been unkind”

—Sarah McLachlan