Lt. Francis L. Toner IV About 250 family members and friends of Lt. Francis L. Toner IV gathered at a memorial service to remember the life of the man who died a hero while serving the U.S. Navy in Afghanistan.

The memorial service paid tribute to Toner, who attended elementary and middle school in Thousand Oaks and graduated from Westlake High School in 2001. He was recruited to play football at the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y. He sailed with the Merchant Marines to seven countries during his training at the academy and graduated with a bachelor's degree in marine engineering and shipyard management.

Toner was commissioned into the U.S. Navy and was stationed at Port Hueneme, where he graduated from civil engineer corps officers' school. He was then stationed in Hawaii, serving at Pearl Harbor as a public works officer before he was sent to Afghanistan in October 2008.

The 26-year-old had been in Afghanistan for five months when he was shot and killed while jogging with friends on base. The shooter was an Afghan insurgent disguised as an Afghan soldier.

Toner was trailing behind as the group was jogging because he was wearing body armor that slowed him down, but when the shooting started, the former WHS state championship football running back ran up and tried to tackle the insurgent. That's when he was shot, said Linda Moosekian, his aunt.

About 200 people gathered as Toner was laid to rest with full military honors on April 16 at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

But it was on Sat., May 2, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints in Thousand Oaks, when his childhood friends came together to remember the boy before he became the man who sacrificed his life for his friends.

Organist Michelle Cooley played prelude music that included patriotic songs such as "America the Beautiful" and LDS music like "Families Can Be Together Forever." The Gardiner Sisters, three teen girls who sing in harmony, performed "The Star- Spangled Banner" a capella.

Shawn Trinto recalled his brave, adventurous friend who would fearlessly ride down Thousand Oaks hills on his Big Wheels. Toner's cousin D.J. Moosekian described him as a role model, the type of son all parents dream they'll have.

Sharlene Lewis quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson: "It's not the length of life, but the depth of life." Kenji Wantanabe said Toner, a joy to be around, worked to become all that God had called him to be. Everyone noted Toner's brilliant smile.

Almost all in attendance began openly weeping when Westlake High School football coach Jim Benkert became choked up as he spoke about "Frankie" as "a coach's dream," a leader with a big heart who would "do anything for anyone."

As he wiped away tears he recalled when his former football player brought his "beautiful wife" to an event and introduced her to everyone.

"He was so proud of her," the coach said.

Benkert recalled Toner receiving an award for outstanding player but said Toner was more than that, "he was the heart and soul of the team." He also described him as "the best society has to offer." Speaking through tears and wiping his eyes with a tissue, he added, "He died for our freedom."

The teams from Westlake High School and the Merchant Marine Academy will wear Toner's number, 46, on their helmets, Benkert said. To further honor the lieutenant, WHS will present the Toner Award to the player who puts the team above their own personal goals and ambitions, he said.

Toner has been given the military awards of the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Combat Action Badge.

Toner is survived by his wife, Brooke; his mother, Becky; his father and stepmother, Frank and Sharon; his sister, Amanda, 24; and his brothers, Michael, 26, and John, 9.