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Book Honors Best Friends Killed In Line Of Duty In Iraq, Afghanistan

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Memorial day has one former Marine colonel making an effort to honor his own son and others who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

A beautiful, brave, intelligent young man and Naval Academy graduate, Travis Manion was killed by a sniper's armor-piercing bullet while serving his second tour in Iraq in 2007.

Book Honors Best Friends Killed In Line Of Duty In Iraq, Afganistan

His father, retired Marine Col. Tom Manion, says the loss of his son has him each Memorial Day not only honoring those who died, but making an effort to help others.

"Whatever you can do, maybe it's just a small little act of kindness, but serve others and make a difference for others and make it matter and through that, you really honor the sacrifice of those brave men and women," he told WCBS 880's Fran Schneidau.

Manion has written a book called "Brothers Forever" about his son and his son's best friend and roommate at the Naval Academy, Navy SEAL Brendan Looney, who died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan in 2010.

Marines, Best Friends To Be Buried Side By Side At Arlington Nat'l Cemetery
A U.S. Marine Corps honor guard from Marine Barracks Washington holds a U.S. flag during the reinternment ceremony of the late Marine 1st Lieutenant Travis Manion at Arlington National Cemetery on October 1, 2010 in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Travis Manion was originally buried near the family's home in Pennsylvania, but when Looney was killed, his body was relocated to Arlington National Cemetery so the two could be buried side-by-side.

Tom Manion says both were great guys with big hearts who led from the front and set the example.

For more information on the book, visit www.brothersforeverbook.com.

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