Tearful farewell
A LONG ISLAND Marine shot to death in Afghanistan this month was laid to rest Saturday.
Dozens of uniformed Marines lined the walkway leading into St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre for the funeral of Lance Cpl. Gregory Buckley Jr., as bagpipers played “Amazing Grace.”
“I don’t need a piece of paper to tell you how I feel about my son. I speak from my heart, because that’s what I have — a heart. It was broken. I ask the Lord to please try and mend my heart,” said his father, Gregory Buckley Sr., who fought tears as he eulogized his son.
Buckley Jr. was barely 21 years old when he was killed in an attack by an Afghan police officer who opened fire in a gymnasium on Aug. 10. He was due to come home for a surprise five-day visit.
“I could never be prouder of anyone. He’s more of a man than me. He’s more of a man than anyone in this world. In 21 years, he gave so much in so short a period of time. He gave to his country. And now he’s up there and he’s going to look after every one of us in this room,” his dad told mourners. “I’m hurt and I’m angry. But I need to believe there’s a reason they took him,” he said.
Joseph Gallub, 20, remembered going to elementary school and playing Little League with Buckley.
“Everyone loved him. He always lit up the room. It’s just unfair. It’s not how anybody should go. It’s just a massacre to this town and to the community. It’s mind-boggling,” he said.