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STAMFORD, Conn. Hundreds of heartbroken friends and former classmates of Brian Bill honored the fallen Navy SEAL on Saturday at Trinity Catholic High School, Bill's alma mater. The candlelight vigil was organized by the serviceman's high school graduating class.
Without a doubt, he was a hometown hero, said Patrick Sasser, a classmate of Bills and one of the organizers of the event.
Many members of Trinity Catholics class of 1997 Bill's class were among those at the vigil. On a scale from 1 to 10, this is an 11, Dennis Poirier said before the vigil got under way. He added that Sasser had wanted to have a reunion the year before, but it never happened.
The Rev. Richard Futie of Sacred Heart Church in Stamford, who befriended Bill when he was a student at St. Cecilia School, shared his feelings of losing a person he described as his gift from God. The two had talked about many things, including Bill's joining the Navy SEALS. Futie recalled joking with Bill about having to act like a circus seal.
He jumped up and threw his arms around me, Futie said, choking back tears.
Chief Petty Officer Bill was one of 38 U.S. and Afghan troops killed when their helicopter was shot down by Taliban forces in Afghanistan on Aug. 6. They were on their way to assist an American force pinned down by a Taliban ambush, a U.S. Department of Defense statement said.
It was shocking, Mo Casseus, who went to school with Bill from the seventh through 12 grade, said of hearing the tragic news.
Did you know Brian Bill? Share your memories of him below or send them to reporter Anthony Buzzeo at tbuzzeo@TheDailyStamford.com.
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