SCHYULERVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The gravesite service for Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Grassia, who was killed in a helicopter crash at the US/Mexico border, was held at Saratoga National Cemetery on Tuesday.
Grassia was buried with full military honors and joined by family, friends, and dozens of state police troopers. Several hours earlier, those same state troopers filed into Saint John the Evangelist Church in Schenectady for Grassia's funeral mass.
Grassia was remembered and honored for his service. First as a New York State trooper and then as a helicopter pilot for the National Guard. His family says "J" (their nickname for him) wanted to be a helicopter pilot as a young boy but not just any pilot.
"He had a very specific purpose and that was to someday to fly the governor of New York," said New York Governor Kathy Hochul. "I wish he had that chance."
While he never got the chance to be that pilot, Governor Hochul appointed Grassia the rank of technical sergeant in the state police aviation division and presented his family with his wings. It was another accomplishment for a man who accomplished a lot in his young age.
"It wasn't too long ago that J said to Judy, his mom, if I die doing the things that I love, then I would have lived a full life," said the priest at Grassia's funeral.
Among those attending the funeral mass were the parents of Casey Frankoski. She also died in the same helicopter crash and was laid to rest last week.
