ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTVA-CBS 11 News) - Cpl. Gregory Fleury, killed in Afghanistan late last month when his helicopter collided with another, was laid to rest Nov. 6 at Ft. Richardson.

Many of Cpl. Fleury's loved ones say at first they did not understand his loss. During a truly uniquely Alaskan memorial, however, they used Alaska Native heritage mixed with military traditions to come to terms with their loss.

Using hugs to say goodbye, more than 150 poured into Anchorage's First Baptist Church, remembering the Marine that wanted his story known.

"Oh, and remember when you said you wanted to meet someone to tell your life story," Fleury's sister Constance Agulair says. "Guess what you have a lot of people who want to tell it."

The little boy who loved to fish, became the man who loved to serve his country.

"He was so proud to let everyone know that he was a Marine," Fleury's sister Jenny Flygare says. "That he did it. He was strong. And he defended our country multiple times."

Honored nine times, Fleury always kept his family in sync, despite the circumstances.

"He may have claimed to look up to me that I was his hero," Fleury's sister Stephanie Chavira says. "But this was entirely the opposite."

When he returned to Afghanistan his dad August Ebona says he knew that was the last time he would see his son.

"I gave you a hug, and at that moment you and I knew what was going to happen," Ebona says. "I never truly wanted to

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believe it. But you told me it is truly the way you wanted to go."

"I had him for only a short time," Fleury's mom Donna Fleury says. "And I was proud to have him as my son."

A pride the Alaska Native community shared by giving their fallen Tribal brother a Tlingit warrior's mask, and playing a song seemingly written for him.

"In our society we say he's walked into the woods away from us now," Native Leader George Bennett says. "In our language we don't say good-bye."

Now, however, that is what Fleury's family must do, taking the flag he so proudly served, while leaving him with a piece of his culture."

"I was told the reason God takes a person so early in life is because he needs more angels," Ebona says. "And I know he needs you to be one of his angels."

Fleury was about to return home to Alaska when he was killed. His grandfather, Albert Fleury, wanted the lasting image of his grandson to be a picture of a bigger message.

"I say, was my grandson's death in vain?" Fleury says. "Was his ultimate sacrifice in vain? No. He believed in freedom for the people of the world. He believed in peace. And the only way you can achieve that is by sacrifice."

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