New York firefighter’s casket is carried to a memorial service

Christopher ‘Tripp’ Zanetis, 37, died when a helicopter carrying him and six other service men crashed near the Iraq-Syria border

A New York City firefighter who was killed in a helicopter crash in Iraq has been honored by his colleagues and loved ones at Washington Square Park.

Air Force Reserve Major and FDNY Marshal Christopher ‘Tripp’ Zanetis, 37, was one of seven servicemen who died on March 15 when the helicopter they were in crashed near the Iraq-Syria border, reportedly after hitting a power line.

On Thursday, those who knew him gathered at the iconic downtown Manhattan park for a memorial service in the fallen soldier’s memory.

Hundreds of uniformed firefighters and members of the armed forces accompanied Zanetis’ family as the firefighter was given military honors.

The memorial, hosted by the FDNY and New York University, began with a procession from Zanetis’ former firehouse in the East Village to the park in Greenwich Village.

FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro, mayor Bill de Blasio and the city’s first lady Chirlane McCray were in attendance. 

Lt. Christopher Raguso, another New York firefighter who lost his life in the crash, was also honored at the event.

On Thursday, Zaneties' colleagues and loved ones gathered at Washington Square Park in New York to pay their respects 

On Thursday, Zaneties’ colleagues and loved ones gathered at Washington Square Park in New York to pay their respects 

The memorial ceremony began with a procession from Zanetis' former firehouse in the East Village to the park in Greenwich Village

The memorial ceremony began with a procession from Zanetis’ former firehouse in the East Village to the park in Greenwich Village

His casket was draped in an American flag and moved to the park on a FDNY engine truck

His casket was draped in an American flag and moved to the park on a FDNY engine truck

Zanetis' family (pictured) honored his request that he have no funeral, but rather a 'celebration of life'

Zanetis’ family (pictured) honored his request that he have no funeral, but rather a ‘celebration of life’

Colleagues of the firefighter-turned-serviceman carried his gear during the ceremony

Colleagues of the firefighter-turned-serviceman carried his gear during the ceremony

Zanetis’ casket was draped in an American flag and moved to the park on a FDNY engine truck.

At the end of the ceremony, his colleagues placed the NYFD’s gold, white and red flag on his casket. 

Zanetis, a longtime member of the city’s Fire Department, graduated both NYU and Stanford Law and was currently on leave to pursue a law career and reportedly worked at a Manhattan firm.  

He was reportedly inspired to join the FDNY in 2004 after 9/11, when he volunteered to help save people.

According to the New York Post, Zantis did not want a funeral but a ‘celebration of life’, and the ceremony was part of his loved ones’ effort to fulfill his wishes.

After the ceremony another service was held at his alma mater’s Kimmel Center. 

Zanetis was a native of Indiana and known as a gay men who was an avid advocate of the LGBT community and veterans.

A program handed at the Kimmel Center and obtained by the Post said: ‘Always true to himself, Tripp came out as gay to his family at the age of fifteen. He entered the military under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and served openly upon its repeal in 2011.’

Zaneti was on unpaid leave from the fire department at the time of his death 

Zaneti was on unpaid leave from the fire department at the time of his death 

The memorial was hosted by the FDNY and New York University, Zanetis' alma mater

The memorial was hosted by the FDNY and New York University, Zanetis’ alma mater

At the end of the ceremony, his colleagues placed the NYFD's gold, white and red flag on his casket

At the end of the ceremony, his colleagues placed the NYFD’s gold, white and red flag on his casket

Hundreds of uniformed firefighters and members of the armed forces accompanied Zanetis' family as the firefighter was given military honors

Hundreds of uniformed firefighters and members of the armed forces accompanied Zanetis’ family as the firefighter was given military honors

Zanetis was a native of Indiana and known as a gay men who was an avid advocate of the LGBT community and veterans

Zanetis was a native of Indiana and known as a gay men who was an avid advocate of the LGBT community and veterans

He was one of the men rescued by Prince Harry after his crew was ambushed by the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2012.

The prince co-piloted an Apache as it flew in to rescue injured servicemen who were then airlifted to safety.

The Prince is understood to have sprayed the fundamentalist forces with bullets, allowing the soldiers to escape.

Zanetis’ 73-year-old father John told the Sun: ‘Prince Harry came in with his protection squadron and blew the enemy to pieces.’

His 63-year-old mother described her son as ‘remarkable’ and said that although he did not talk about his service a lot, he did talk about Prince Harry’s rescue after he had dinner with the royal. 

The cause of the crash is still being investigated but officials have said that it does not appear to have been the result of enemy activity. 

The crash is the deadliest incident involving U.S. soldiers abroad since May, 2013, when seven servicemen were killed by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan. 

Mayor Bill de Blasio and the city's first lady Chirlane McCray were in attendance

Mayor Bill de Blasio and the city’s first lady Chirlane McCray were in attendance

At the end of the ceremony, Zanetis' colleagues placed the NYFD's gold, white and red flag on his casket

At the end of the ceremony, Zanetis’ colleagues placed the NYFD’s gold, white and red flag on his casket

Zanetis was one of the men rescued by Prince Harry after his crew was ambushed by the Taliban in Afghanistan

Zanetis was one of the men rescued by Prince Harry after his crew was ambushed by the Taliban in Afghanistan

After the ceremony another service was held at his alma mater's Kimmel Center

After the ceremony another service was held at his alma mater’s Kimmel Center

The crash is the deadliest incident involving U.S. soldiers abroad since May, 2013, when seven servicemen were killed by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan

The crash is the deadliest incident involving U.S. soldiers abroad since May, 2013, when seven servicemen were killed by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan

 



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