Matias Ferreira: A real American Hero

In my eyes Matias Ferreira is a real American Hero. Born in Uruguay Matias Ferreria moved to Atlanta with his family at the age of 6. In an interview he gave he spoke of going to the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996 with his father and seeing the men in uniform and how much he respected them at such a young age.

After the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 Matias and his friends talked about going into the service but they were still in school and had awhile to go before they could join up and join up he did just one year after graduating from high school. In May of 2009 Matias joined the United States Marines where he served his country with pride and honor.

Just two years after he joined the Marines Lance Corporal Matias Ferreira was injured by an improvised explosive device (IED) blast during his deployment in Helmand which is a province in Afghanistan. Unfortunately he lost both of his legs in the blast and broke his pelvis. At Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C. Ferreira had a long road ahead of him and being the fighter he is he didn’t stop at just walking.

During an eight month period of surgeries and therapy he pushed himself to keep going. With the use of prosthetic legs he completed a marathon, entered bike races, and even reached the top of a climbing wall but there is a lot more to this amazing young man who always wanted to defend those who could not defend themselves.

While he was at the rehabilitation center Matias played on the Wounded Warriors softball team. One day the team was out celebrating winning a tournament in Smithtown. While his friends were in the bar celebrating Ferreira stepped outside to make a phone call. He had no idea his life was about to take a turn for the better as he struck up a conversation with a young woman out walking her dog. Sometime later, that young woman saw him on the news and recognized him. She sent him an email, thanking him for his service to our country. Tiffany, the young woman, and Matias were later married and now have a baby girl.

In 2015 Matias Ferreira risked his life once again but this time he was in Queens when a car crash behind him. Upon hearing the screams of the mother, who was trapped in the car, calling out for help for her baby he jumped out of his car. Matias was leaving his wedding rehearsal when the crash took place. He didn’t stop to think as his fiancée’s father and his brother got the mother and father out of the vehicle Matias squeezed in the backseat and rescued the baby from her car seat.

Always wanting to help people, to be there for those who could not defend themselves Matias Ferreria decides he wants to be a police officer, to once again serve and protect. He took the police exam scoring a perfect 100. His fellow recruits later elected him class president. On March 24, 2017, at the Suffolk Police Academy Matias Ferreria was sworn in as a Suffolk County Police Officer, joining that blue line of courage and strength.

No one took it easy on him because he was a double amputee. If he wanted to be a police officer than he had to prove himself. He met all the requirements expected of him doing 38 sit-ups and 29 push-ups and running the required mile and half in 12 minutes and 29 seconds. If anything he pushed himself hard to prove he could do the job just as well as anyone else. Matias Ferreria is believed to be the first fully active duty double amputee police officer in this country and an inspiration to many, I am sure.

He understands the challenges he faces but he is confident in his ability to the job just as well as any other police officer. While he was in the academy he was asked by someone what would happen if he broke his leg. Mattias joked back saying, “If I break my leg, I go to the trunk and put on a different one and keep going.”

I have read every story I could find about Matias and each one inspired me more and more. He knew what he wanted to do from he was a young boy. His need to serve and protect drove him to join the Marines just a year after graduating high school. Even after he lost his legs he didn’t give up but found strength deep inside himself along with the love and strength of his family. He knew he had a long road ahead of him but instead of seeing darkness he saw a light at the end of the tunnel and set his sights for it. He does not see himself as disabled but said, “The only disability we have is the ones we make,” smart man.

I cannot imagine the horrors and fear that filled his parents hearts when they received that phone call and the agony they went through as they watched their son fight to come back and fulfill his dreams. Never giving up although he knew it wasn’t going to be easy.

Men and women of our Military, veterans like Matias Ferreira and so many others, are the reason we stand up and salute our flag and proudly sing out national anthem. A small way to pay tribute to all of them. Every night before I go to sleep I ask God to please watch over the young men and women in uniform be it our US Military or Police and Firemen and bring them home safe to their loved ones.

I know the pride his family must have felt to see him fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer as he took the oath on Friday because it was a little more than four years ago I stood and cried as my son took his oath to serve and protect. Imagine seeing your child come home from serving his country and losing his legs then a few years later proudly taking the oath to be a police officer and promising to once again protect and serve those in need. He is a true inspiration to all.

Never giving up, always pushing Matias Ferreira has proved there are no limits, only goals. If you can dream it, you can achieve it. We should never give up on our hopes and dreams because there is always a way to get to the finish line. You just have to figure out how to start and not stop till you get there.

I would like to take this time to Congratulation Officer Matias Ferreira and to thank him for his service to our country and for his service to Suffolk County even though I do not live there. You are an amazing man and an inspiration to all.

Semper Fi!

May God Bless America and watch over Officer Matias Ferreira and his family.