Hundreds of people gathered in Essex County Friday to remember a New Jersey state trooper who lost his battle with cancer.

A wake was held for Lt. Bill Fearon at the Shook Funeral Home in his home town of Cedar Grove. Fearon died Wednesday after a heroic battle with brain cancer that he is believed to have developed during his work at Ground Zero after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Lt. Fearon served with the New Jersey State Police for 22 years. His friends and colleagues say that he was quick to lend a helping hand. He was working out of the Bloomfield barracks on the day of the Sept. 11 attacks and headed out to Manhattan soon after to help in the rescue effort.

An MRI in 2015 revealed Glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Only 30 percent of people have a chance of surviving two years with this type of cancer.

Gov. Chris Christie issued an executive order to have flags lowered to half-staff Saturday in his honor, the same day as his funeral.

Lt. Fearon is survived by his wife and three children.