The Oakdale community gathered on Memorial Day to honor and remember local hero Matthew Baylis with the unveiling of a new memorial at the Oakdale Trail Station.

Baylis, an Oakdale native, served in the U.S. Army for nearly two years before he was killed in Baghdad in May 2007 while helping to rescue members of his unit during a firefight.

Family, friends and community members gathered for the ceremony to pay their respects and celebrate Baylis’ sacrifice and service to the country.

“It meant an awful lot to me and his godmother that his name is going to be here forever,” said Richard Baylis, Matthew's father.

“In my mind, he can see this, and he would have the biggest grin on his face,” added Susan Lyons, Matthew's aunt and godmother.

Baylis’ family said he decided to join the military following the Sept. 11 attacks.