Oakdale monument a lasting tribute to Matthew E. Baylis, 'hometown hero' killed in Iraq War

With the tug of a dark blue sheet that billowed in the wind, a monument honoring the life and service of Army Spc. Matthew E. Baylis was unveiled Monday at Norman DeMott Park in Oakdale.

Baylis died 10 days after his 20th birthday on May 31, 2007, while serving in the Iraq War. He sustained injuries after his platoon came under enemy fire while on patrol in Baghdad. 

Nearly 19 years after his death, about 50 people gathered together in Baylis hometown of Oakdale for a Memorial Day dedication ceremony in the park. A boulder with a bronze plaque bearing Baylis' name now looks out onto Main Street as trains pull in and out of the Long Island Rail Road station in the background. The event was organized by the Knights of Columbus in Oakdale

Matthew's father, Richard Baylis, said he is grateful his son is remembered in the community he loved. Richard Baylis, who moved last year to Leland, North Carolina, and flew back to Long Island to attend the ceremony, said he got a "sneak peek" at the memorial Sunday night.

"Standing here in the rain, looking at that was overwhelming," Baylis said. "We don't know how his name will live on. We just know that we want it to live on in a positive way."

Matthew Baylis was 14 when he watched the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center, his father said, and like many others, was deeply motivated to fight for his country. He enlisted in the Army during his senior year at Connetquot High School and completed basic training in 2006 at Fort Carson, Colorado, before deploying to Iraq with the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment.

Baylis' mother, Laurie, died two years ago. Her sister, Susan Lyons, of Farmingdale, who is also Matthew's godmother, said the bright orange begonias around the monument were her favorite flower.

"Matt lit her up, he lit all of us up. He was a burst of light wherever he went. He just had so much spirit," Lyons said. "He took a part of her with him. She adored her son and would have loved to have been here in Oakdale today." 

As a child, Matthew Baylis played "soldier." He also played the drums and loved wrestling, those at the event said. He was also known for his bright blue eyes and grin. 

The monument was donated by Fricke Memorials in Ronkonkoma and 9 Brothers Building Supply in Brentwood, organizers said, and private donations were raised to support the installation and landscaping. 

Raymond Meyer, a volunteer with the Sunrise Knights of Columbus in Oakdale, said Baylis "was a hometown hero" and the group was happy to get like-minded people in the community together to donate to the cause. The group also made a $2,000 donation to the Baylis family's memorial scholarship fund in honor of Matthew. 

Tim Scherer, of East Northport, whose son Chris was 21 and a Marine when he died in Iraq a few months after Baylis, attended the Memorial Day event. He said keeping the connection strong with other Gold Star fathers like Richard Baylis is an important part of keeping their sons' memories alive. 

"If you never stop saying their names, they're still here with us," Scherer said.