Hundreds of family and friends gathered to remember the fallen hero Marine who was killed in Afghanistan.
The death of 21-year-old Marine Lance Corporal Greg Buckley, Jr. of Oceanside has ripped his parents, two younger brothers and community apart and brought people together. The impact of his passing was noticeable by the large gathering of his friends who came to support each other outside St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre before his funeral.
Buckley, Jr. will be buried at Long Island National Cemetery.
"He loved the fact that he was a Marine but he wasn't ready for everything that was over there," said his best friend Sebastian Buttafuoco.
"He was a good kid. He just didn't deserve this, you know?" said another friend Markiquse Chess.
Another friend Michelle Sanchez added, "Greg was just the life of the party, it's just such a shame that this happened."
Those who knew the Marine described him as an inquisitive, fun-loving athlete and role model who loved to sing and dance.
Greg's brother, Justin, said Greg didn't have a bad bone in his body. He graduated from Oceanside High School in 2009. He died in Afghanistan on August 10 when an Afghan police officer shot him and two other U.S. Marines after they all ate together.
Greg Buckley Sr. could barely put one foot in front of the other as he left the church. Earlier, as he as he wept through his eulogy, he said, "I could never be any prouder of anybody in my life." He said, "Please don't ever forget that kid."
Friday, May 24 2013 10:44 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:44:03 GMT
The unofficial start of summer is being met with not-so-perfect beach weather. Many beach communities had been hoping for good weather this Memorial Day weekend following the destruction caused by Superstorm Sandy.
The unofficial start of summer is being met with not-so-perfect beach weather. Many beach communities had been hoping for good weather this Memorial Day weekend following the destruction caused by superstorm Sandy. The Fox 5 weather team is calling for sunny skies on Sunday and Monday.
Thursday, May 23 2013 6:28 AM EDT2013-05-23 10:28:29 GMT
The parolee shot and killed along with a Hofstra University student by police won praise from a state parole panel in 2011 before his conditional release from prison.
The parolee shot and killed along with a Hofstra University student by police won praise from a state parole panel in 2011 before his conditional release from prison.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 1:00 PM EDT2013-05-22 17:00:29 GMT
An emotional funeral service has been held for a Hofstra University student who was accidentally shot by police.
An emotional funeral service has been held for a Hofstra University student who was accidentally shot by police. Andrea Rebello's family followed the pastor Wednesday as he led her white cloth-draped coffin to the altar at St. Teresa of Avila Church in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.
Monday, May 20 2013 5:32 PM EDT2013-05-20 21:32:24 GMT
As a family prepared for the funeral of a Hofstra junior killed by a cop's bullet during a standoff with an armed intruder, questions remain about how police handled the situation.
As a family prepared for the funeral of a Hofstra junior killed by a cop's bullet during a standoff with an armed intruder, questions remain about how police handled the situation.
