A touching tribute took place Friday night for a New Jersey native who died during Navy SEAL training.

Kyle Mullen’s former football teammates at Manalapan High School retired his No. 44 jersey to honor him. The jersey was presented to the Mullen family and No. 44 will never be worn again by any other player.

“It’s so nice and I didn’t know how many people loved him,” said Mullen’s mother, Regina. “I know I did, but I didn’t know how many other people did.”

Mullen, 24, died on Feb. 4 after completing a phase of Navy SEAL training known as “Hell Week.” A cause of death was listed as acute pneumonia. But the Mullen family says his death could have been prevented. The family has called out the Navy for ignoring Mullen’s condition.

“First thing the Navy does is says he died in a hospital. The EMT told us they couldn’t declare him dead there. They told us he was dead in their barracks with no medical treatment,” says Mullen’s brother, TJ.

The Mullen family says they hope the truth about what happened to Kyle Mullen the day he died comes to light, but they say they are thankful for the support from the community.

“He just impacted so many people’s lives. It’s an honor that so many people would come out and support us,” says TJ.

The investigation into Mullen’s death continues. His family explains that right now, command investigations are being redone. It was not clear as to why.