Matthew

Trigger Warning

 

Born the day after Valentine's Day in 1994, Matthew Charles Merritt Fry was a charming blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy with a kind heart. He got along with everyone and was close to his family. In 2004, he lost his 'only child' status when he became the big brother to twin boys. Matt was funny, smart, competitive, and loved playing games, whether they were computer games, cards, or sports.

 

He earned a black belt in Tang Soo Do and enjoyed playing football. During his senior year of high school, Matt asked his mother if she would be embarrassed if he chose to join the Air Force instead of attending Penn State, where he had already been accepted. She of course, felt proud of his decision to enlist and serve his country.

 

Matt worked in the intelligence community, a job that was kept secret. Originally from Pennsylvania, he didn’t get to see his family often while stationed at Langley Air Force Base. There, he met and married his wife, who was also in the Air Force. They later transferred to Buckley AFB in Colorado and had opportunities to travel for work to places like South Korea and Hawaii, which he loved. Matt was accepted into the MOSAP program, a significant honor, and he received many accolades during his career. Most of his accomplishments were unknown to his family until his Colonel spoke at his funeral, revealing the breadth of his work and the collaborations he had with other agencies in the intelligence community.

 

On March 13, 2020, a series of unfortunate events led Matthew to take his own life. As the country began shutting down due to the global pandemic, the Air Force sent him home with instructions to await further directives. While at home, he called his parents, who noticed he had been drinking early in the day. He sounded happy and joked, “Why not? I’m not allowed to leave.” Their conversation revolved around a surprise birthday party for his cousin, who was turning 21. Matt and his wife planned to fly to Pittsburgh to celebrate with family, dine at a nice restaurant, and visit a casino—an experience he had never had. He was eagerly looking forward to it and even downloaded charts to study for blackjack, trying to get his mom to memorize them, showcasing his competitive spirit.

 

However, just a few hours after their call, Matt received news from the Air Force that he would not be allowed to fly to Pittsburgh and that it would be quite a while before he could. Following this disappointing news, he had a serious argument with his wife. The combination of these events and his alcohol consumption created a perfect storm, leading Matthew to tragically end his life.

 

Matthew’s choice could have shattered his mother's life. Instead, she chose to reach out and help others. She developed this site and partnered with the organization TAPS.org, hoping to save at least one life. While she could not save her son, perhaps she could save someone else, and she pledged to make her life a tribute to that cause.