At Leominster City Hall, hundreds attended a vigil for Capt. Ross Reynolds, a 27 year-old Marine and native of Leominster who was one of three soldiers killed last month in a NATO training exercise in Norway.
Candles and flags were held as the Leominster community mourned the loss of the fallen Marine.
Sign up for our Breaking newsletter to get the most urgent news stories in your inbox.
Of the speakers at the event was Reynold's widow Lana Reynolds, who married the deceased Marine only last February.
Get Boston local news, weather forecasts, lifestyle and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC Boston’s newsletters.
"“We got married in basically a hallway, and it was the most precious moment of my life,” she said.
"He's not resting in peace, he's flying in peace," Lana continued, mentioning her late husband's work as a pilot, and he's passion for flying.
Reynold's father-in-law, Tom Wando thanked the community for their grace and help in honoring the fallen Marine.
"Anything you could do, you did," said Wando. "And we all want to do that one thing that we can't do, but thank you for your thoughts and prayers, this has been a huge support for our family."
"He always wanted to be a Marine pilot," said Lori Batemen, a friend of Reynolds' family. "That was written in his yearbook."
Attendees of the vigil included Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella, and MA congressman Jim McGovern.
This vigil is only part of a series of services to honor the service of Capt. Reynolds. On Saturday, Reynolds' body was taken from Logan Airport to Leominster in a 50-mile procession to the city. Residents of the town, many of them former service members, stood on the sides of Leominster's streets to pay their respects.
A public wake in Leominster City Hall is scheduled for Monday from 3 to 7p.m., followed by a funeral service on Tuesday, where Captain Reynolds will be laid to rest.
