The legacy of Marco Warren has been honoured during a heart-warming memorial ceremony at Flagler College.

Warren’s family, former team-mates, coaches and school staff gathered for the occasion in Florida, with loving tributes made to Warren, whose loved ones were presented with his No 23 jersey in frame.

“It was a very touching and historic occasion,” Warren’s mother, Wendie, told The Royal Gazette.

“Marco loved, and was loved, by the Flagler community.

“We were so touched by the acts of kindness and warm welcome that we received from Jim Babcock [event sponsor], John Lynch [coach], Terri Seron [event organiser], president John Delaney and the entire Flagler community. Marco touched all of our lives and tied us together as family and friends.

“While we were impressed to learn more about his athletic achievements, we were equally touched by the impact that Marco made in the community.”

Also in attendance was Warren’s girlfriend, Kalay Hollis, who also moved by the school’s kind gesture.

“I think it was a very heart-warming experience and it was nice to have my son [Vega] with me so that he could see his daddy’s school and everything. He was crawling around and enjoying himself,” she said.

“Obviously I had sad moments because that was a trip Marco was planning to take with me and Vega in the future, but we didn’t get to it, so it was nice to be able to visit and see the areas he stayed in.”

Warren’s sister, Chelsea, said it was a privilege and honour to attend the ceremony.

“It actually was a true honour to see how my brother lived his life and how impactful he was just by how people treated us and by their stories and experiences meeting my brother,” she added.

“I felt very honoured and blessed to have been his sister and to have known such a great fellow. I am proud of him and I think that’s an understatement.

“To see some of his team-mates drive for hours just to be a part of it meant so much to me, and it was beautiful to see how Marco had touched lives beyond Bermuda.”

Warren made his presence felt on the pitch throughout his college football career and was chosen as Flagler’s most valuable player during his senior year in 2015.

“Five years he was with us and when we have a student-athlete or student at Flagler College they are part of the family and Marco is part of our family, too,” Jud Damon, the director of athletics, said.

“He was very special from an athletic standpoint obviously. He was a giant.

“He may have been small in stature but you knew he was on the field when he was playing. He didn’t take anything from anybody; he was tough.

“He did great and was all conference [Peach Belt Conference] and all region [Southeast Region]. He was just almost larger than life on the soccer field and that’s how we got to know him.

“He contributed so much to us and we had good teams when he was here.

“We have hundreds of athletes that come and go every year. Twenty different teams and I can’t remember every single one, but I remember Marco. He was a special person to all of us.”

Former PHC Zebras captain Warren died in May last year at the age of 29. His former team-mates have dedicated the 2023-24 season to their late colleague and recently retained the Friendship Trophy in his honour after prevailing 3-2 over Somerset Trojans in the final at Wellington Oval on New Year’s Day.

“Marco would be very happy to see these lot win the cup,” Hollis said. “I know he is up there proud of them and how their hard work paid off.

“They accomplished something very good that he would have been happy about. To see them win the cup was a very good feeling.

“Those boys work hard and obviously they are grieving Marco as well. They are working hard and trying to get it together and to see everything work was good to see.”