YNN.com

Albany / Schenectady / Troy

Change region

  74º

Updated 08/26/2010 06:37 AM

Community members line streets of Nassau to honor fallen soldier

By: Sabina Kuriakose

Hundreds of people came out to pay their respects to a hometown hero, as the body of Army Staff Sgt. Derek Farley was brought back to his native Nassau. Our Sabina Kuriakose was there and joins us with the latest.

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.


Community members line streets of Nassau to honor fallen soldier
NASSAU, N.Y. -- It was a hero's welcome home, as the motorcade carrying the body of Army Staff Sgt. Derek Farley returned to the place he grew up one last time.

"He sacrificed his life for all of us," said one local resident. "A lot of our families got to come home from the war, and he didn't."

"To support the family, to thank Derek for his service," said another resident.

Hundreds lined the streets as the motorcade made its way around Nassau. Many carried flags and wore red, white and blue to recognize Farley's sacrifice.

"As a civilian he was a friend, and as a soldier he's my brother," said SPC. Kyle Shuhart. "So I had to come out and show my support."

Shuhart went to high school with Farley, describing him as quiet, funny, and always kind.

"If he was half the soldier as he was a person, he was pretty incredible," Shuhart said.

Recognized with a Purple Heart for his service in Iraq, Farley died last week in Afghanistan when a bomb he was trying to disarm detonated. It was just two weeks before he was set to return home.

"You don't really expect this kind of thing to happen in such a small town," said Shuhart. "I've lived here all my life."

And as they gave one final salute to this fallen soldier, many here say they'll never forget what he gave.

"It's really important that we remember those that sacrifice their lives."

A private funeral will be held on Friday.