Family, Friends Of Boy Killed By Gator At Disney Gather In His Memory
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Family and friends of a young Nebraska boy killed by an alligator at the Walt Disney World Resort gathered over the weekend in his memory.
Saturday would have been Lane Graves' third birthday.
In June, Graves was playing at the edge of the Seven Seas Lagoon, behind the Grand Floridian, when he was grabbed by a gator.
Matt Graves tried to pry his son from the animal's jaws but couldn't as it retreated into the water. The following day boy's body was found not far from where it was taken.
Hundreds gathered at Elkhorn South High School on Saturday to release thousands of blue balloons to honor the two year old and surround his family with love and support.
"Anyone that knows me knows that I don't like to speak but my baby, I owe it to him to honor him," said Lane's mother Melissa. "So his mommy needed to say Happy Birthday Laney, you're in our hearts today and every second of every other day."
"We would not have been able to get through the pain without this community, our friends and our family, and for that we say thank you," said Matt Graves.
The Graves said they hoped Lane would see the giant blue heart that everyone made from heaven.