By Jennifer O’Connor
The community came together to grieve the loss of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Daniel Gregory Prial, 30, who died onboard a New York Army National Guard UH-60 medical evacuation helicopter when it crashed on Wed., Jan. 20. Prial, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Steven Skoda and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Christian Koch were killed in the crash while conducting night vision goggle proficiency training in the Town of Mendon, NY.
When Prials body was transported to his family’s hometown of Warwick on Thurs., Jan. 28, residents, local officials, members of Warwick and surrounding Fire Departments, Police, and EMS, stood along Main St. in frigid temperatures holding American flags to pay their respects.
As the motorcade, led by Town of Warwick Police Chief Tom McGovern and Police Officer Michael Kearns on motorcycles, made its way through the Village of Warwick many shed tears and saluted the hearse that transported Prials body to the Lazear-Smith & Vander Plaat Memorial Home.
Due to the amount of people anticipated to attend the wake, it was held at a larger venue in St. Stephen the First Martyr Church on Fri., Jan. 28. The following day on Sat., Jan. 30, the funeral took place in the church by invitation only due to COVID-19 restrictions, and it was livestreamed for all to watch on St. Stephen’s website.
During the funeral service, Danny’s sisters, Jennie and Brigid, each gave a reading from the Bible, while his sister, Becky Prial-Fullam, said the “Prayer of the Faithful.” Danny’s brother, Terence, also participated in the service by speaking about what it was like growing up with his brother who is very close to him in age.
Terence said that as kids Danny always looked up to him because he was the older brother, but when they became adult’s he looked up to Danny because of the way he connected with people. Terence said he was awed by Danny’s ability to connect with others and his incredible charm. He’s also moved by the hundreds of stories people have told him about how Danny has helped them.
Terence pointed out how Danny’s concerns for others was made evident during the crash as he referred to what Father Joseph Marcoux said earlier in the service. Fr. Marcoux was with Dan’s mother, Anne, after the accident, and she asked him to escort her to the crash site.
“It is holy ground,” said Fr. Marcoux, while reflecting on the site. “I noticed the field was surrounded by houses. Danny, Mr. Skoda, and Mr. Koch are heroes because they laid downed their life in that field so that others can live. They are heroic.”
Danny’s father, Greg, gave a moving Eulogy, saying, “Danny loved flying and serving others. He loved being part of something bigger than himself. He didn’t have solitary pursuits – he loved his family and friends, and he always made time for them. He knew what it was to be loved and to love. He got cheated out of time but he didn’t get cheated out of time spent – he made it all count.”
After the Eulogy, the service ended with the songs, “God Bless America” and “Danny Boy.” Residents and members of the Warwick and local fire departments stood along West and Main Streets holding flags while the procession left St. Stephens Church and headed to the United States Academy at West Point for a private burial.
Residents hold flags as a motorcade with the body of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Daniel Prial drives through the Village of Warwick on Thurs., Jan. 28.
A member of the Warwick Fire Department salutes the hearse transporting the body of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Daniel Prial on Thurs., Jan. 28.
A funeral procession for Chief Warrant Officer 2 Daniel Gregory Prial drives under an American flag draped from two bucket fire trucks on Sat., Jan. 30.
Town of Warwick Police Officer Jason Brasier and Chief Tom McGovern led a funeral procession for Chief Warrant Officer 2 Daniel Gregory Prial on Sat., Jan. 30.
Members of the American Legion Arthur Finnegan Post 1443 from Greenwood Lake & Warwick Police Lt. John Rader salute the funeral procession for Chief Warrant Officer 2 Daniel Gregory Prial on Sat., Jan. 30.
Passing by the enduring symbol of Warwick, the Old School Baptist Meeting House, a motorcade, escorted by New York State Police, brought Chief Warrant Officer 2 Daniel Prial back to his hometown on Thurs., Jan. 28.
