CONCORD, N.H. — A 31-year-old Navy SEAL from New Hampshire who died during a military parachute training exercise in Florida will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
A celebration of William "Blake" Marston's life has been scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Bedford Presbyterian Church. Visiting hours will be held Friday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Bennett Funeral Home in Concord.
Marston died Saturday after landing on the grounds of an airport in DeLand.
Police said after he was found on the ground unconscious and with a broken leg, he was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
A witness told police that something flew off his parachute as he was in free fall between 40 to 60 feet above ground.
"Is his parachute open?" the 911 dispatcher asked.
"Yeah, his parachute is open, but it's dangling over a fence right now. I think something broke in it," the caller said.
Marston, of Concord, New Hampshire, was assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team and had served in the Navy for six years. He completed SEAL training in 2009.
"The entire Naval Special Warfare community extends our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of our teammate, Blake. He will be missed by all who knew him," said Lt. David Lloyd, spokesman for Naval Special Warfare Group TWO.