Online Campaign Raises Funds To Bring Former Marine Home For Burial

In just a few days, a fundraising campaign raised enough money to help bring a Smithtown native who passed away in Arizona last week back home for burial.

Christian Stark, a former Marine who previously served in Iraq, passed away on Friday, March 17 while being treated for PTSD at an Arizona facility. He was 37.

His aunt, Ellen Stark, created a campaign on GoFundMe to help his family raise funds to cover the cost of bringing Christian back to Smithtown for burial.

The cost of bringing him home was a total of $8,000, Ellen wrote on the page. Since creating the page on Sunday, a total of $9,090 has been raised.

"The love, support and generosity shown by all of you has been overwhelming," Ellen wrote on the page. "Thank you to everyone who has supported and continues to support the Stark family in our mission to bring Christian home where he belongs. Christian served his country with dignity and honor. Now he will be afforded a funeral deserving of a hero marine."

Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 23 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Branch Funeral Home on 190 E Main Street in Smithtown.

A funeral service will be held at the funeral home starting at 8 p.m. Internment will take place at the Long Island National Cemetery located in Farmingdale.

To learn more or to donate, visit his GoFundMe page here.