The garden was filled with surviving family members, Marines and well-wishers who came to honor Collart's act of bravery as traffic bustled down 8th Street outside of the Marine barracks. Smith was accompanied by the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Carlos Ruiz, who was by his side as they presented the honor to Collart's family.
"Spencer, you never cease to amaze me, buddy," Alexia Collart, Spencer's mother, said as she briefly looked to the sky. "I just want to let you know we are so proud of you. We only got to have two decades with you. We love you so, so much, and we feel you are around us every single day, and we will never forget."