CAPITAL REGION, NY (WRGB) — Sunday marks two years since a National Guard helicopter crash killed three people on the Texas-Mexico border.

Casey Frankoski of Renselaer and John Grassia III of Rotterdam were both killed.

A border patrol agent was also killed in the crash, and Jacob Pratt from the Capital Region was the lone survivor.

If you ask Casey and John’s family to describe them, the word friend comes to mind.

“Casey was an amazing girl, full of life, so honored to serve her country, living out her dream of flying,” said Jim Frankoski, Casey’s father.

Her mom Jill added, “She was everybody’s friend, she really was.”

Krista Rotond, John’s older sister, said, “John was an adventurous being. He was kind and loving, he was our little baby doll and our pride and joy.”

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John and Casey were among the three people killed in a helicopter crash in Texas 2 years ago. They were on a National Guard deployment.

From golf tournaments, fundraisers, and scholarships, both families are using their kids’ love for service to give back to others.

“The foundation was designed to keep his memory alive, celebrate who he was and give back to the community, which is exactly what my brother wanted to do both in life and death,” Rotundi added.

Jim Frankoski said, “Our goal is to keep their memory alive and to make sure that people know why they died. They died serving this country. And we just don’t ever want people to forget that.”

Another way to honor their lives is through Operation Song.

It’s a Nashville-based non-profit that connects songwriters with service members, veterans, and loved ones. They talk about military experiences and put those words to music.

RELATED: Two Capital Region soldiers killed in Texas helicopter crash return home

“We’ve really grown our outreach and family, reaching anyone that’s been affected by the loss of a loved one, someone who was a first responder who gave up their family time, and just giving back to the community and serving us as a whole,” said co-organizer Nina LeMorta of Operation Song Upstate.

For both families, it’s helped in healing.

“Being at Operation Song last year, for me, it made me so proud as a mom,” said Judith Gracia, John’s mom. “It gave me some peace to know that there were so many people, you know, that were there celebrating his life.”

Two preview events are happening this month for those interested in Operation Song: March 13th at The Armory Center and March 14th at Lanzies on the Lake.

The main event happens in September.

To learn more about the John Grassia III Foundation, click here, and to learn more about the Casey Frankoski Memorial Fund, click here.