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Veteran's chilling final Facebook post will break your heart

<p>An Iraq war veteran's last Facebook post has gone viral after he was tragically killed in a car accident.</p><p>Matthew DeRemer <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10208264931690245&set=a.2731838544447.146753.1511782156&type=3" target="_blank">posted this hopeful message</a> on the morning of New Year's Eve: "I've lost, I've gained, family is closer and tougher than ever before, loved ones lost, and new friends found. ... I look back at 2015's huge challenges that I've overcome, shared with others, and have once again found myself."</p><p>The former Marine corporal ended the inspirational post with an ominous last line: "I really don't know where I'll end up tonight but I do know where I windup is where I'm meant to be."</p><p>Just hours later, he was killed in a motorcycle crash that police say was caused by a drunk driver. He was 31 years old. (Video via <a href="http://www.wtsp.com/story/news/2016/01/03/friends-devout-motorcyclist-killed-drunk-driver-speak-out/78230728/" target="_blank">WTSP</a>)</p><p>"His tattoo on his forearm, you know, John 14:12, he's going to go be with the Father. And I know that's where he's at. My angel has wings now," <a href="http://www.fox13news.com/news/local-news/68111593-story" target="_blank">DeRemer's friend Neysa Shilling told WTVT.</a></p><p><a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/veteran-matthew-deremer-killed-hours-after-hopeful-new-year-s-n489886" target="_blank">DeRemer's sister, Lynsey, told NBC</a> her brother had recently found a job as a surgical technician, which gave him hope for the future. She told the outlet, "We knew he had a very big personality. ... But to see the kind of testimony he had, it does give us peace."</p><p>The Florida Highway Patrol says the driver who's accused of hitting DeRemer, Steven Clarke, was arrested at the scene and charged with DUI manslaughter and failure to yield right-of-way. He was released on bail the day after the accident.</p>
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A former Marine’s chilling final Facebook post is going viral after he was tragically killed in an apparent New Year’s Eve drunk driving accident.

Matthew DeRemer, a former Marine corporal from St. Petersburg, Fl., took to social media like thousands of others on Dec. 31 to recap a year he said was full of obstacles.

 

 

Last day of 2015!!!! For me I'll be meditating through all I do, on this entire year. I've lost, I've gained, family is...

Posted by Matthew DeRemer on Thursday, December 31, 2015

 

The Iraq war veteran closed his status by saying:

"And I really don’t know where I’ll end up tonight but I do know where I windup is where I’m meant to be"

Attached to his status was a quote that read “We are born in 1 day. We die in 1 day. We can change in 1 day. We can fall in love in 1 day. Anything can happen in just 1 day.”

Just a few hours later, DeRemer was killed when his motorcycle was struck by another vehicle. Steven Clarke, the driver of the vehicle, was arrested at the scene and charged with DUI manslaughter and failure to yield right-of-way, according to NBC News.

According to his sister Lynsey, DeRemer died doing what he loved. He was reportedly an officer in a Christian motorcycle group.

"We knew he had a very big personality. He was like a magnet for people. But to see the kind of testimony he had, it does give us peace," Lynsey DeRemer told NBC News.

Matthew DeRemer was 31 years old.

Alex Hider is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @alexhider.