Body Of Fallen Hero Returns Home To Commack

Airmen from the 106th Rescue Wing perform a dignified arrival of Master Sgt. Christopher Raguso back to F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base on Tuesday. (Photo/Flickr/N.Y. National Guard)

The body of a Master Sgt. Christopher Raguso, of Commack, one of the seven servicemen killed in a U.S. military helicopter crash earlier this month, returned home on Tuesday.

Master Sgt. Christopher Raguso

Airmen from the 106th Rescue Wing, of which Raguso was a member, performed a dignified arrival as Raguso’s body was brough back to F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton.

From there, the procession headed west to Commack.

Along the way, volunteer firefighters from across town and Suffolk lined the streets in honor of Raguso, 39.

Raguso, an FDNY lieutenant and an honorary chief of the Commack Fire Department, was a husband and father-of-two.

A memorial fund to help the Raguso family pay off the remainder of their mortgages has been established by the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Tower foundation. Contributions can be at Tunnel2towers.org.

Visitation for Raguso will be held today and Friday, 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at the Commack Fire Department (6309 Jericho Turnpike, Commack). A funeral Mass will be held Saturday, 11 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church (59 Church St., Kings Park).

Suffolk police are advising motorists of road closures in Commack and Kings Park for the wake and funeral.

One lane of Jericho Turnpike will be closed between Valmont Avenue and Commack Road in Commack today and Friday between 12 noon-10 p.m.

Indian Head Road will be closed between Kings Park Road and Old Dock Road from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday.

Church Street, portions of Old Dock Road and portions of Route 25A will also be closed.

–ANDREW WROBLEWSKI