Matt Beard

This angel pin was designed in memory of Matt whose mother wrote, "My son and only child, Matt, was killed by a drunk driver over his college Christmas break in December 2006.  He left to go on a scuba diving trip with friends on December 21st when the car he was riding in was struck by a drunk driver.  Matt remained in a coma on life support until he died on December 29, 2006 of a severe brain injury.  He was 21 years old, just about three weeks shy of his 22nd birthday which was on January 20th.  Matt was senior at Florida State University.  He was a double major, biology and philosophy.  He graduated posthumously on April 27, 2007 Magna Cum Laude with Honors in his Major and a certificate in marine biology.  He was going to be a marine biologist. He was to start grad school to get his Masters and PHD.  He had just interned the summer before he was killed, the summer of 2006, in the Keys at NOAA where did coral reef research and made an amazing research discovery with the coral reefs.  NOAA is continuing with Matthew's research.  Matt's passion was our oceans -- the coral reefs, scuba diving and surfing.  He was always the happiest at the ocean.  He loved life and lived life.  When I would tell him to slow down he would say, "Mom, I live life."  As beautiful as Matthew was on the outside he was even more so on the inside.  Matt would want his life celebrated as he celebrated life every day.  This pin is not only in memory of my amazing son but to celebrate him and everything he loved."

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