Gallery

A man signs a guest book amid a photo display of Capt. Jeff Kuss at a public reception for his family on Saturday at Fort Lewis College. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

People begin to gather Saturday afternoon to pay respects to the family of Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Flowers were abundant Saturday at a public reception at Fort Lewis College for the family of Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss. Photo by Jessica Pace/Durango Herald

Family, friends and military colleagues of Capt. Jeff Kuss gather Saturday at a public reception for the family at Fort Lewis College. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Centerpieces used blue and yellow flowers to honor Capt. Jeff Kuss. The colors are shared by the Blue Angels, where Kuss was a pilot, and his alma mater, Fort Lewis College. Photo by Ann Butler/Durango Herald

A woman brought a sign honoring Blue Angels pilot Jeff Kuss to a reception at Fort Lewis College on Saturday. Photo by Jessica Pace/Durango Herald

People begin to gather for a public reception for the family of Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss on Saturday at Fort Lewis College. Photo by Luke Perkins/Durango Herald

The community paid its respects to the Kuss family Saturday afternoon at a public reception at Fort Lewis College. Twitter photo by Fort Lewis College

Photos of Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss were displayed Saturday at a public reception at Fort Lewis College. Kuss, a pilot with the Blue Angels, died June 2 in a crash. Photo by Jessica Pace/Durango Herald

“Here’s a guy who is a legitimate hero to the whole state,” Gov. John Hickenlooper said Friday afternoon. “He went to Fort Lewis. They told him, ‘Well, we’re not sure that’s the right school if you want to be a pilot.’ He said, ‘I don´t care. I want to go to Fort Lewis. I want to be a pilot. I want to do both.’ The guy clearly had focus.” Hickenlooper ordered flags at all public buildings statewide to be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset Saturday to honor Capt. Jeff Kuss on the day of his service. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Michael Kuss, father of the late Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss, receives hugs and kind words during the reception at Fort Lewis College following the graveside services at Greenmount Cemetery on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Michael Kuss, father of the late Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss, receives hugs and kind words during the reception at Fort Lewis College following the graveside services at Greenmount Cemetery on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Janet Kuss, mother of the late Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss, receives hugs and kind words during the reception at Fort Lewis College following the graveside services at Greenmount Cemetery on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Family and friends of the late Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss attend the reception at Fort Lewis College following the graveside services at Greenmount Cemetery on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Family and friends of the late Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss, attend the reception at Fort Lewis College following the graveside services at Greenmount Cemetery on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Mary Anne Nelson, writes down a memory of the late Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss, who she had as a student at Sunnyside Elementary School. “He was one of the greatest kids I’ve worked with, and if you ever met him you’d never forget him,” Nelson said during the reception at Fort Lewis College following the graveside services at Greenmount Cemetery on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Michael Kuss, father of the late Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss, receives hugs and kind words during the reception at Fort Lewis College following the graveside services at Greenmount Cemetery on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald