Miguel Marcial laid to rest

He grew up in the Garden State and died halfway around the world serving his country, but in many ways the fallen soldier was one of the borough’s own.

Over 100 of New York’s finest showed up at St. Athanasius Catholic Church on Bay Parkway and 61st Street last week to pay their final respects at the funeral for Marine Pvt. Miguel A. Marcial 3rd.

Marcial, 19, of Secaucus, N.J., died April 1 in Anbar Province after serving just one month of duty in Iraq.

His father, Miguel Marcial, Jr. is a police officer with the 62nd Precinct in Bath Beach,

Marcial 3rd was a radio operator in the 1st Battalion’s 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Marine Expeditionary Force.

According to military officials, the circumstances of his death remain under investigation.

“I don’t know much about the young man, but he is a son of a police officer in the 62nd Precinct,” said Lt. James Woods from Brooklyn Borough South.

“We want him to know that his loss is our loss,” Woods said.

Msgr. David Cassato from St. Athanasius told the throng of police and marines in attendance that Marcial 3rd was faithful to family, faithful to loved one and faithful to country.

According to New Jersey newspapers, Marcial 3rd attended Secaucus High School through the 11th grade and then transferred to the New Jersey National Guard Challenge Youth Program at Fort Dix.

Marcial earned his high school diploma in 2005 and enlisted in the Marines in February 2006.

Besides his father, who also lives in Brooklyn, Marcial is survived by his mother, Diana Cabrera, of New Jersey.

Also extending their sympathies to the 62nd Precinct family was Community Board 11 at their recent meeting held at the Holy Family Home on 1740 84th Street.

The precinct also put up a memorial picture of Marcial 3rd in their daily briefing room.

“He died while serving this country. For us, this is a personal loss like losing a family member,” said Woods.

“We are very close-knit. We also can relate how someone can lose their life in the service of the city or the country, and for us it’s a tragedy.”

From Flatbush Life

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