DPS honors fallen Trooper Matthew Myrick at boat dedication ceremony

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) honored fallen Trooper Matthew Dewayne Myrick on Friday with a boat dedicated in his honor at the Texas Panhandle War Memorial Center.

Myrick was just 36 years old when he died in a vehicle crash in 2006. He was stationed in Hereford and was survived by his wife and four children, who were in attendance along with other family members at Friday's ceremony. Fellow Troopers and representatives from local law enforcement were on hand to honor his legacy. State Representative Four Price spoke at the ceremony.

"This boat dedication is a meaningful way to honor Trooper Matthew Myrick's courageous legacy,” Price said at the ceremony. "It serves as a reminder to all of us that the Texas Department of Public Safety never forgets the heroic individuals who gave their lives in the line of duty serving our community. I'm grateful to the Texas DPS for making this dedication possible."

DPS Regional Director Joe Longway spoke about Myrick's dedication to service as a Navy veteran and Highway Patrol officer.

“The boat dedication is a fitting testament to his sacrifice and selfless service," he said. “The vessel carrying Trooper Matthew Myrick's name will protect the citizens of this great state with distinction and honor, just as he did.”

Longway emphasized that DPS has always maintained a promise to the families of those who have had family members make the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, never to forget them or the sacrifice made.

“This is just one way of fulfilling our commitment of not forgetting,” Longway said. “I think this ceremony just reemphasizes that we are a family and they are part of our extended family of public safety. This was the most family-involved dedication that I have been a part of, and it's all about the family.”

Sergeant Cindy Barkley of DPS spoke about the importance of honoring local law enforcement with these boat dedications.

“We never want to forget the service and sacrifice that these officers did for their service to the state and its citizens,” she said. “We also do this for the family, which means a lot to them as well as to our department.”

Barkley thinks it's very meaningful for those families whose loved ones are being honored to see that DPS still shows support for its fallen troopers and their memory. According to Barkley, this Tactical Marine Unit will be stationed at the Texas-Mexico border to suppress criminal activity.

Barkley also spoke about the great turnout from the Amarillo community. “This goes to show what a great community that we live and work in that is so supportive of the law enforcement community. We are so blessed to get this support,” she added.

Christy Mattingly, Myrick's wife, spoke about her husband at the ceremony.

“To see all these people that we have known for years and to meet new people and share his life was just very touching and moving,” she said. “It meant a whole lot to the family. He would be so stoked to see his name on a vessel. I know he is just looking down from heaven, excited because they are helping other people, and that is what he was all about.”

Mattingly expressed that it was encouraging to see all the support there and to know that whatever contribution one makes that every life counts and matters. She also expressed gratitude to DPS for allowing so much family involvement in the ceremony.

“We were so honored. From the get-go, DPS said, this is you and your family, and we want it to look how you want it to look,” she said. “For them to ask was incredibly special.”

Trooper Myrick's daughter, Matilyn Myrick, sang “It Is Well With My Soul” as a tribute to her father. Mattingly said that the song was very personal.

“When we have to say goodbye to those we love, just to know that it does well with our soul, that we will see him again one day,” she said, "that peace surpasses that in the moment and waves of sorrow in our life. It is just a calming presence just washing over us, knowing there is hope.”

She said that her and husband’s faith as a respected man of God helped her find a level of peace.

“I just felt like the Lord was there, holding me up and encouraging me,” Mattingly said. “It was like, how you can have peace amidst anguish? And yet I did. I am at peace knowing that I will see him again, but I will never stop missing him.”

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: DPS Trooper Matthew Myrick's heroic legacy honored at boat dedication