People line the driveway Thursday at the Oakland Church of God in Distant, northern Armstrong County, as the funeral procession for Marine Sgt. Joseph Michael Garrison pulls out. Garrison, 27, was killed in Afghanistan on June 6.

DISTANT — More than 500 people attended the funeral of a Marine from Armstrong County who was killed in action in Afghanistan.

Services for 27-year-old Sgt. Joseph Michael Garrison on Thursday drew family, friends and scores of residents.

They gathered outside the Oakland Church of God with U.S. flags and handmade signs with messages of support.

Garrison, a graduate of Redbank Valley High School in New Bethlehem, was killed June 6 in Helmand Province.

He joined the Marines in 2002, served four tours of duty abroad and was an infantryman.