Navy SEAL Lt. Brendan Looney was laid to rest at the Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, October 4. According to a feature on TBD.com, around 3,000 people attended his funeral services and burial.

Looney was honored by friends and family as an American hero, describing him as a motivator, a protector, and a leader, as shared in the TBD feature.

While attending DeMatha Catholic High School, he was a standout on the football team. When he graduated in 1999, he was recruited to play football for the Naval Academy. Patrick McCarthy, Looney’s former teammate, shared: “Every single day in practice I tried to mimic Brendan Looney.”

Another DeMatha High School football teammate, Jimmy Connolly, said: “To… go into Navy SEALs is a huge personal sacrifice but it’s what he wanted to do and it’s really awesome.”

During his sophomore year at the Naval Academy, Looney shifted to playing for the lacrosse team. He, along with his two younger brothers Steve and Billy, was named an All-American in 2004, his senior year.

Looney eventually trained to become a Navy SEAL, and was named as the “Honorman,” the best in his class.

Lt. Looney’s burial service was closed to the media at the request of his family. The family, however, gave the following statement: “Brendan made the ultimate sacrifice…although his life was tragically cut short, his spirit will live on in his family and friends and the brave men and women who served by his side until his passing.”

Looney was buried beside his best friend, 1st Lt. Travis Manion, who was killed in Iraq in 2007. Manion’s remains were reinterred at the Arlington National Cemetery recently. Manion and Looney were roommates at the Naval Academy.