Harpseal passed on as of March 19, 2004

His friend | Mar 22, 2004 | Laz

[Lazamataz]

Matt Reilly, also known as 'harpseal' on Free Republic, died on March 19, 2004.

His friend Eileen is making arrangements for a Memorial service at the local VA.

Matt was a former Navy SEAL, a keen businessman, a friend to his Walker Hound, and an accomplished sailor.

He was also my friend and my business partner. I can't barely see the keyboard through my tears. He will be missed greatly.

[wardaddy]

Good Lord....how sad. I had no idea.

One of the best there ever was around here.

Damn. I know he lost his wife last year or so.

God bless his soul.

I am dumbfounded to have gotten your post.

My condolences to all of his friends and survivors.

[Constantine XIII]

prayer bump!

[Caipirabob]

My heartfelt condolences to you, his family, loved ones and friends.

It was always a pleasure reading his posts (even the ones that made me think!) It's tough to lose good people. We can only hope to carry on as Harpseal would want us to.

Harpseal helped to fight the good fight. May he rest in and be at peace.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Words cannot express the loss of a fellow Brother in Arms, either during the immediate battle or the life-long one that follows.

Those of us left will keep the Colors high in remembrance of our fallen brothers! Rest well Matt, we'll meet again in eternal freedom!

[albee]

Harpseal will truly be missed. My prayers go out to his friends and family.

[lelio]

Wow. Very sorry to hear this. I thought he was caring for a sick family member ...

[Charles Martel]

Aw, damn.

[wjcsux]

Prayers for Matt, his family and all of his friends. He is in Gods hands.

[Semaphore Heathcliffe]

Man, oh man. God bless you, harpseal. Thank you for making this a better world.

Take care, Laz.

[Tribune7]

I'll miss him. I loved his tagline. Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown.

May he find peace in the Bosom of Abraham.

Prayer bump.

[muleskinner]

Wondered why I hadn't seen his name in awhile. I will miss his posts. Prayers away.

[Indy Pendance]

Freeper Interview Series: Harpseal

[Liberty Valance]

Rest in peace Harpseal

[murdoog]

He was an eloquent critic of outsourcing. Paul Craig Roberts will have to work twice as hard now.

[nunya bidness]

Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown

[aculeus]

Deepest sympathies.

[joesnuffy]

Laz....He is with Jesus now and his first wife....and couldn't be happier or more fufilled.....

[Travis McGee]

I don't know how to put this, so I'll just put it. Matt was in terrible pain for at least the last year and a half as he battled cancer. He had been through every chemo and radiation therapy known, including some experimental ones with extremely adverse side effect. Matt was willing to go the hard route to become an experimental subject, not so much to extend his own life (and God knows he wanted to live!) but to possibly help the others who would follow his down his painful path.

Yes, he was a hero, fighting our fight, until the end.

Matt told this to me in strict confidence last year when a few of us were inquiring about his occaisonal disappearances from Free Republic. These were times he was in the hospital, or times that he was in such unbelievable pain that he could not work a computer to post.

Some of you might have noticed that his posting became more infrequent, and lately was just a line here or there. Matt was a highly intelligent man (obviously) and we could tell when his pain was pegging the meter by his missellings. He was really trying to hang in there and post, but could hardly read what he was typing through the pain.

Matt expressly did not want any prayer threads or "pity parties" on his behalf while he was alive. He wanted to keep posting like every other freeper, and not draw any attention to his "personal problems." Despite all the treatments, all the pain, he kept up the brave front to the bitter end.

He was a very brave man, and a hero.

He can skip purgatory, and go straight to the best place.

God Bless you Harpseal.....

[wardaddy]

Amen to that....I always liked his sign off.

[Seeking the truth]

Harpseal will be missed greatly. My prayers to his family