The high school where a fallen Monroe County marine graduated from set aside this Friday night to retire his football jersey.
Lance Corporal Frankie Watson played four years as a wide receiver for the Sequoyah High School Chiefs.
The 2008 graduate's #7 jersey will now proudly hang in the lobby of the school's gymnasium. Watson was the last to wear that jersey after the end of the 2007 season.
"Frankie was the type of young man that did whatever he was asked to, he gave everything he had," said the school's principal Maurice Moser.
Among the friends and family that was at the ceremony, was THP Sgt. Lowell Russell. He is still recovering after a tractor-trailer slammed into his cruiser in March.
Russell raised Watson from a young age, and said he was honored by the support.
"It's just been unreal the support, and we're thankful. There's not a day that goes by that we're thinking how the community has helped Frankie and his memory," Russell said.
The school has honored Watson with more than just the jersey. Last year, a flagpole and stone memorial was built near one of the goalposts for the fallen Marine. The school also named the field house in Watson's honor.