On July 7, jumper Eric Proctor made a 24,000-foot HALO skydive as a fundraiser for the family of New York Air National Guard Master Sergeant Christopher “Goose” Raguso, who died in action on March 15 when his helicopter went down during a night mission in Iraq. Raguso, a Fire Department of New York firefighter when not serving overseas, left behind his wife, Carmela, and two daughters. As a fellow firefighter, Proctor decided to host a fundraiser to help with the education expenses of Raguso’s two girls, who would grow up without their loving dad. 

Proctor made the jump at Skydive Cross Keys in New Jersey using full oxygen equipment on the plane and in freefall. He was wearing Raguso’s military uniform shirt (provided by Carmela) and carried an FDNY patch and a purple heart. Under canopy, Procter and the other jumpers on the skydive trailed red, white and blue smoke as a tribute to the local hero. So far, the effort has raised more than $3,500 for Raguso’s daughters, and Proctor is hoping to raise even more through his Go Fund Me page at gofundme.com/jumpforgoose.