MILLSTADT, Ill—More than two decades after he lost his life in act of bravery that saved the lives of dozens of his fellow Marines, Matthew Wyatt’s name was formally unveiled Friday at the post office in his hometown in ceremonies that brought together family, friends and members of his unit.

A bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Mike Bost to officially rename the Millstadt post office passed Congress last year and was signed by President Biden in January.

Wyatt, a Belleville West High School product who joined the Marines soon after graduation in 2001, was stationed at a Forward Operating base in Al Anbar Province, Iraq on December 3, 2024 when a suicide bomber attempted to drive a truck carrying 600 pounds of explosives at the base gate.

Wyatt died in the explosion, but his actions saved the lives of dozens of servicemembers.

“Matt was the embodiment of a true Marine leader. He earned the trust of his fellow Marines through compassion, fairness and strength. He always put his Marines first, guiding them with both physical and moral courage,” said Greg Iworsky, a former Marine Sergeant who served with him. “He never shied away from the hard choices. He always led with integrity and heart. He wasn’t just respected, he was deeply loved.”

“You try to do things that make sure that our heroes don't suffer the second death, which is when they're forgotten. When you have a post office or something else named after that hero, that name will go on for generation to generation to generation,” Bost said.

““It’s not something that he ever wanted, but because it is here today, it brought a lot of people together and I think that would mean the world to him by just after 20 years just remembering him and honoring him in a very respectful way,” Wyatt’s mother Verlene said Friday.