The crash, 220 miles west of Baghdad, killed 30 Marines and one sailor. It's the most American service members to die in a single incident in Iraq since the war began.

News of the deaths hit hard throughout the military. That includes the community at Fort Lewis where a memorial service was held Wednesday for one of their soldiers.

Despite the different branches, when they're fighting in Iraq they're all part of one military. It doesn't matter what uniform they're wearing. They are all in this together.

On this day they're all being honored and remembered at the state legislature. It was just a coincidence the observance happened on the same day as the deadliest day of the fighting.

"For those families who are grieving because their loved ones have paid the ultimate price in giving their lives for our freedoms," prayed mourners.

State representative Jay Rodne (R-Snoqualmie) sponsored this observance. He is also Major Jay Rodne of the Marine Reserves.

Rodne just served in Iraq and also served with the Marines in Somalia and the first Gulf War. The news of the helicopter crash and the other Marine deaths weighed heavily on his mind.

"The first thing I felt was sadness for the families," he said. "To lose this many of my fellow Marines in what seems to be a tragic accident, my heart goes out to the families."

At Fort Lewis, the Stryker Brigade was also saying goodbye to one of its own. Lt. Nainoa Hoe, 27, was killed by a sniper's bullet as he led a foot patrol in Mosul Saturday.

Despite his death and the death of all the Marines Wednesday, Hoe's brother Nakoa says the effort in Iraq should go forward.

"I just think that everybody in the U.S. needs to be proud of their soldiers. I'm very proud of this country," said Nakoa.

Lt. Hoe leaves behind his wife Emily. They had only been married seven months. He also leaves behind his parents, including his father Alan who is a Vietnam War veteran.

Nokoa is also in the Army and was supposed to have deployed this weekend to Kuwait and Iraq. Now the Army is re-assigning him to a non-combat role because he's the only surviving son of this family.