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.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
