AP
Bob Struss puts American Flags on his fence Jan. 21, outside his home in Westwood, N.J. as the small northern New Jersey town prepares for the return of Marine Sgt. Christopher Hrbek.
A northern New Jersey town has formally honored a fallen Marine who grew up in the community.
Hundreds gathered Saturday in Westwood for a ceremony where the Bergen County town's post office was named for Sgt. Christopher R. Hrbek. He was killed in Afghanistan in January by an improvised explosive device.
The 25-year-old graduate of Westwood High School had previously served three tours of duty in Iraq.
He also was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star with valor for racing under hostile fire in December 2009 to save another Marine who had stepped on an explosive device.
A nine-year volunteer firefighter with the Westwood Fire Department, Hrbek had planned to eventually become a New York City firefighter.
