MECHANICVILLE, N.Y. - Flags are at half-staff Monday in honor of a
26-year-old Saratoga County Marine who was killed while serving in Afghanistan
over the weekend.
Lance Cpl. Anthony Denier was a Mechanicville High
School graduate and member of the U.S. Marine Corp. for about 18 months.
Denier was shot and killed while in action in
Fallujah, a city in Afghanistan. He had been serving in Afghanistan for just
one month at the time of his death.
He was out on foot patrol with a dozen other Marines
when he was shot down by enemy fire. He was the only Marine to be killed during
this enemy action.
Denier's mother was notified by the military of his
death Sunday night. His mother and sister both tell NEWS10 it was Denier's
life-long dream to become a Marine.
"Even when he was younger, he loved to play GI Joe.
He was always outside," said Maria Betts, Denier's sister.
Denier only enlisted about a year and a half ago. His
family says he had several jobs after high school before becoming a part of the
infantry for the third marines, ninth battalion.
At American Legion post 1644, where Denier was a member,
his name will now be added to plaque commentating fallen service members.
His body is expected to be flown to the U.S. on Tuesday and return to Albany
Airport on Monday. He will be buried at Saratoga National Cemetery.
"We were lucky enough to be his family and we're
lucky forever," said his mother, Mary Morgan.
NEWS10 ABC
