Photos from Barnegat-Ocean Acres Patch
Courage for Kyle Facebook page
At St. Mary's Parish in Barnegat, New Jersey, family, friends and strangers said goodbye to 12-year-old Kyle McGetrick who died last week after a seven year battle with leukemia. Firefighters from Ocean County, New Jersey and beyond escorted Kyle's coffin to the church aboard a pumper from Barnegat Fire Company #1.
Many of the same firefighters and fire trucks gathered in December for an impromptu parade in front of Kyle's home after word got out the end was likely near for the boy who wanted to be a firefighter like his dad Gene.
After we reported the December parade, firefighters from around the world sent hundreds of messages and patches to Kyle. Kyle held on for five more months.
Here's more on today's funeral from an article by Tom Kluender at Barnegat-Ocean Acres Patch:
Father Ken Tuzeney of St. Mary's Church, who performed a traditional Catholic service, said that those who have gathered to see Kyle off today, came together in grief to say "thank you" to Kyle, for the difference he had made in their lives touched by his courage.
"We cannot change the wind, but we can change our sails," Tuzeney said. "Kyle did." Kyle's sister Mariah, 17, shared funny memories of her brother.
She spoke about the candles around the room reminding her of Kyle's warmth. "You will always be the man of honor on my wedding day," she said.
