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Hingham Honors Marine Killed In Helicopter Crash

HINGHAM (CBS) – From Boston to Hingham Tuesday night, crowds lined the streets to show support for the family of a local Marine.

Thousands turned out for the special tribute to Cpl. Christopher Orlando.

"In honor of this amazing young man who is defending our country," Hingham resident Sandy McNulty said.

Christopher Orlando
Sign honoring Cpl. Christopher Orlando in Hingham (WBZ-TV)

"Our daughter is serving in the Navy and she was close with some of the guys," said Dianne Young of Natick. "She asked us if we'd of course come down and we certainly wanted to be here."

So many came to mourn a Marine they never met.

"To see a young man, his life end so abruptly - it is heartbreaking," said. Hugh McLaughlin.

Hingham
Thousands line streets of Hingham to honor Cpl. Christopher Orlando (Image from Julie Loncich/WBZ)

"What can you say? It's so hard and he's so young. He had all of his life ahead of him. It's a terrible thing. It's a terrible, terrible thing," said Phyllis Koch of Hingham.

Twelve missing Marines were presumed dead this month after two helicopters crashed off the coast of Hawaii. Hingham's Cpl. Christopher Orlando was among them.

His parents returned home Tuesday night without their 23-year-old son escorted by state and local police.

Thousands lined the streets of Hingham, silence save for sirens.

"I think he'd think it's awesome," said Orlando's close friend Bobby DePesa. "He'd be happy. He was a good kid."

A family friend says a memorial service will be held in Hingham in the near future.

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