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It's been a month since Soldotna resident Mathias "Matti" Martin died at the Ninilchik Fairgrounds after being fatally injured while attending livestock. But those who knew and loved him did not forget his 10th birthday.

On Monday, family, school teachers, classmates and friends gathered at Kalifornsky Beach Elementary School -- where Matti would have been a fourth-grader -- to celebrate his birthday and his memory.

His mother, Ronna Martin, said the day was as much about healing as it was about celebrating her son's memory.

"Our main goal for doing this is for the kids at school," she said.

The youngster was fatally injured Aug. 21 after being dragged by a family cow he was tending to after the animal was spooked.

A memorial service had been held Aug. 25 at the Kenai Central High School auditorium. But that was just days before school started, and Martin said not everyone who knew her son was able to attend. Also, some children might only have known Matti as a classroom chum, and not realized he had died until they got to class and saw he wasn't there.

"Some kids and parents couldn't get to the service and because of that they never got closure," Martin said. "So we want to make sure they get the closure they need to move on.

"This will be an opportunity to help them, and I think it will help me and my family."

K-Beach Principal Melissa Linton agreed the event would be a good way to say goodbye to Matti for those who missed the memorial. The gathering included a slide show of Matti's life, and students were invited to make good-bye cards to be placed in a scrapbook for the Martins.

Family members and friends also released balloons with messages for Matti from his favorite spot on the playground -- the rope swing.

Linton said there couldn't be a better place to release the balloons than where he played.

"He was talkative and polite, and full of energy," she said. "He was always the first one done with his lunch and ready to go to recess."

Cake also was served, and students were told they could eat it Matti-style -- which meant utensils were optional.

Martin and Linton said they hope the school event will help the classmates of Matti's siblings enrolled there, Darius and Sonora, better understand the gravity of the event that transpired.

"We want Darius' and Sonora's classmates to know who Matti was to them, so they understand the situation, and can be more sensitive in the comments they make," Martin said.

"We went to the classrooms after it happened, and I think a lot of parents did an excellent job of taking to their kids, but this will help with any unanswered questions," Linton said.

Joseph Robertia can be reached at joseph.robertia@peninsulaclarion.com.