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Fallen marine has one final stop before being laid to rest

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GREENWELL SPRINGS - The body of Lance Corporal Taylor Conrad arrived back home this weekend after the helicopter crash that took his life. 

"I mean he died fighting for the country, you know, protecting everybody, which makes me really proud. He'll always be my hero," said his cousin, Emily Conrad.

She described the moment she found out he had passed. 

"I immediately broke down. I didn't want to believe it. I mean he was so young, he was only 24, and it still just seems like a really bad dream."

Monday afternoon, East Baton Rouge Deputies helped escort Conrad's body from the Seale Funeral Home to Greenwell Springs Baptist church. At the visitation, family and friends filled the parking lot say goodbye to their fallen Marine. 

"He had always wanted to be a marine. Ever since I can remember, since he was two or three years old that's all he ever talked about, was serving the country."

Conrad's dream came true in 2016 when he joined and became a CH-53 helicopter crew chief and went to serve out west. He and his crew were practicing landing drills near the Mexican border when the helicopter went down. 

"It makes me very proud that he took that ultimate sacrifice to protect everybody."

After retiring from the Marines, Conrad hoped to become a special needs teacher. Now his family is hoping to memorialize his giving spirit by building a playground in his honor.

"He had a really big heart, he put everybody before himself. He loved taking care of the special needs kids."

You can donate to his GoFundMe campaign here.

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