The flag at Suffern High School was at half-staff Monday in honor of a fallen Marine who graduated from the school in 2003.

Marine Corporal Steve Vahaviolos, 21, and three others were killed May 11 after their armored tank went off a bridge into a canal. Vahaviolos' English teacher says his current students knew about the Marine because he was part of a project about graduates serving in the military.

Vahaviolos' family received word of his death over the weekend. His family members say he had the kind of thing about him that made you care. His body will be flown back to Rockland County within the upcoming week.

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