ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Hundreds of people joined family and friends at Foundation Academy in Winter Garden to honor the late 1st Lt. Evan Fitzgibbon at Tuesday night's vigil.

The Central Florida native died during a training exercise in Georgia last week.

Family and friends said he was a strong leader and always had his eye on the prize, graduating from West Point and serving in the United States Army.

Fitzgibbon's parents, Cindy and John Fitzgibbon spoke to the crowd, briefly thanking them for their support and prayers while also telling everyone this has been one of the most challenging weeks of their life.

"One of the most difficult things in life is when you surpass your children," said John Fitzgibbon.

The star athlete's former football coach Wes Murray described him as one of the toughest players, never backing down from a challenge.

"He was just putting his nose in front of the biggest guy every single time. Never hesitating, never thinking, 'Oh, I think that guy is bigger than me, I think he is stronger than me, I think he is faster than me.’ Never asking, 'Is this something I want to do, but is this something my team needs me to do.' It was that type of leadership you could tell he was cut out of the military," explained Murray.

Fitzgibbon's teammates and coaches noticed his leadership inside the locker room.

"Laughing, just talking up everything. He was somebody who was focused. He was a hard worker but always about a good time," said Murray.

"Bold, strong, courageous. Definitely like a leader of our class, he was one of our captains for the football team," explained one of his former teammates.

His coach said he always worked hard for everything he received and was a role model.

"With Evan, there was never a surprise in terms of success. Everything he got, everything that he moved into it, was just like, 'Oh, of course, that is something anybody could have seen.’ It is something that he earned. You can see with the amount of people that came out here he was a tremendous leader, one of those you would say is the best of us and somebody we would all admire and somebody who we would all follow," said Murray.

John Fitzgibbon said his son lived by one motto after graduating from West Point, "'Until the battle is won, class of 2021.' Tonight, we stand victorious with him, and his battle is won. I know, I know, I know where my son is."

Fitzgibbon died as a second lieutenant but was posthumously promoted to first lieutenant and recognized as a graduate of Army Ranger school.

On Wednesday, the Windemere Police Department escorted Fitzgibbon's body from Orlando International Airport through Windemere to some of his favorite spots before arriving at his final resting place.