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named
Stepanek as one of her all-time most memorable guests in the 25-year history of her show. Mattie convinced Oprah not to retire from her show on its 20th anniversary, saying by email that the show was "good for the world and good for ." During the final studio audience taping, Stepanek's mother
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United States senator from
Maryland, joined Mikulski in introducing Senate Resolution 509, which was approved by the Senate and which honors Stepanek's life and peace legacy. In 2017, the city of Rockville, Maryland, voted to declare Mattie's July 17 birthday as "Peace Day" at a local level in
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and others. Pepper
Choplin set words from Stepanek's final peace speech to music, and a 100-voice choir performed the debut of the song "Look Up Way Down". Central to the park is its Peace Garden, which has a design based on the peace imagery Stepanek used in his book of essays
238:. It featured Stepanek's poetry, set to music by composer Joseph Martin. The music was performed by 200 members of Distinguished Concerts Singers International—including its Children's Choir—under the direction of conductor Stephen Roddy.
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Shortly after
Stepanek's death in 2004, the non-profit Mattie J.T. Stepanek Foundation was established by a group of citizens in Rockville, Maryland, where Stepanek had lived.
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from
Maryland, sent a letter to US President Barack Obama, wanting to declare July 17 (Stepanek's birthday) a national peace day in Stepanek's honor. In July 2014,
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books of poetry and peace essays. Before his death at the age of 13, he had become known as a peace advocate and motivational speaker.
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In 2013, the
National Catholic Partnership on Disability posthumously honored Stepanek with its Youth//Young Adult Leadership Award.
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in
Washington, D.C., commemorated the tenth anniversary of Stepanek's death. It was con-celebrated by several priests from the
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1999 Melinda
Lawrence International Book Award for inspirational written works from the Children's Hospice International, 1999
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hosted the first annual international Three Dot Dash Just Peace Summit based on the message
Stepanek offered in his book
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125:. His three older siblings died from the same illness. The condition was unknown until his mother was diagnosed with
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Matthew
Stepanek was born on July 17, 1990. Stepanek's parents divorced when he was a child. He was raised in
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and Oprah shared memories of Stepanek; they discussed his life story as told in the book
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poetry books, and a collection of peace essays that also became a bestseller.
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perpetua, as a statement of support for the National Peace Day Campaign.
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Stepanek was a poet and speaker. He wrote six volumes of bestselling
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On October 21, 2008, the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park was dedicated in
619:"Houston Children's Chorus Readies for Carnegie Hall Performance"
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316:'s Nu Skin Force for Good Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award
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At the behest of the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Foundation, in 2013,
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in Washington, D.C., on June 22, 2004. He was interred at the
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Interview on public radio show "Humankind" by David Freudberg
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Burials at Gate of Heaven Cemetery (Silver Spring, Maryland)
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2007 Independent Publisher's 'Peacemaker of the Year' Award
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book; and Oprah called him "a messenger for our times."
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in 1992, after all four of the children had been born.
776:"Mattie Stepanek - Lifetime Achievement Award Winner"
490:: Songs Based on the Poems of Mattie J.T. Stepanek"
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392:"Matthew 'Mattie' Stepanek, 13; Poet, Peacemaker"
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153:in April 2003. It debuted at number 109 on the
336:Stepanek, Jennifer Smith (24 February 2020).
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827:The Mattie J.T. Stepanek Foundation website
357:"Mattie Stepanek, 13, Poet and Inspiration"
646:"Oprah's All-Time Favorite Guest Revealed"
86:(July 17, 1990 – June 22, 2004), known as
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292:On June 22, 2014, a Memorial Mass at the
281:On September 21, 2012, the feast day of
832:Jimmy Carter Eulogy for Mattie Stepanek
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114:. His hero was former U.S. President
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907:People from Upper Marlboro, Maryland
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538:The Mattie J.T. Stepanek Foundation
516:"Celebrating the Courage of Mattie"
484:Ruhlmann, William (15 April 2003).
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514:Johnson, Darragh (June 29, 2004).
230:On June 6, 2010, a performance of
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917:21st-century venerated Christians
355:Associated Press (23 June 2004).
565:. United Nations. Archived from
467:"Interview With Mattie Stepanek"
84:Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek
45:Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek
902:People from Rockville, Maryland
746:"Contributor - Mattie Stepanek"
591:Snipes, S. (24 December 2008).
342:Mattie J.T. Stepanek Foundation
121:Stepanek had the rare disorder
887:Deaths from muscular dystrophy
593:"In Memory of Mattie Stepanek"
390:Oliver, Myrna (24 June 2004).
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465:King, Larry (17 April 2002).
225:Just Peace: A Message of Hope
752:. Scholastic. Archived from
727:. Mattie J.T. Stepanek Guild
644:Hamilton, A. (20 May 2011).
149:. The album was released by
862:21st-century American poets
172:Stepanek died at age 13 at
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210:, at an event attended by
446:"Poetic eulogy by Carter"
298:Archdiocese of Washington
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872:American child activists
488:Music Through Heartsongs
289:in the Catholic Church.
197:We Are Family Foundation
160:and at number 15 on the
142:Music Through Heartsongs
139:He was the lyricist for
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652:. Oprah Winfrey Network
599:. Oprah Winfrey Network
182:Silver Spring, Maryland
178:Gate of Heaven Cemetery
877:American child writers
277:Cause for canonization
803:Independent Publisher
262:United States senator
127:mitochondrial disease
110:, and later lived in
35:Stepanek in June 2004
797:Barnes, Jim (2007).
721:"Canonization Cause"
294:Franciscan Monastery
88:Mattie J.T. Stepanek
23:Mattie J.T. Stepanek
897:Poets from Maryland
750:Scholastic Teachers
520:The Washington Post
471:CNN Larry King Live
314:Nu Skin Enterprises
283:Matthew the Apostle
208:Rockville, Maryland
112:Rockville, Maryland
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162:Hot Country Songs
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71:(2004-06-22)
857:2004 deaths
852:1990 births
846:Categories
731:2022-01-08
423:Legacy.com
324:References
266:Ben Cardin
232:Heartsongs
201:Just Peace
134:Heartsongs
51:1990-07-17
650:Oprah.com
597:Oprah.com
248:Messenger
241:In 2011,
156:Billboard
704:12 March
678:12 March
656:12 March
543:13 March
164:chart.
809:18 Oct
760:18 Oct
629:18 Oct
603:18 Oct
573:18 Oct
499:18 Oct
473:. CNN.
429:18 Oct
403:18 Oct
368:18 Oct
304:Awards
270:junior
188:Legacy
782:2 Sep
312:2004
168:Death
811:2014
784:2013
762:2014
706:2017
680:2017
658:2023
631:2014
605:2014
575:2014
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268:, a
260:, a
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66:Died
41:Born
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