Funeral Held for Lake Worth Drowning Victims

An emotional service Friday morning in Fort Worth for an Arlington Heights High School student and his uncle.

Javier and Juan Carlos Zacarias drowned while swimming in Lake Worth over the Labor Day Holiday weekend. Friday morning a joint funeral was held on the city's north side.

From t-shirts to car windows, there were many displays of affection for the two relatives who died. Hundreds showed up to say goodbye to Javier and Juan Carlos. An emotional goodbye for the family and Javier's friends and teammates.

"I'm sad, because he was like a brother to me," said Brian Aguilar, a friend and teammate. "And he meant a lot of all of us and we're all going to miss him a lot. I can't believe he's gone."

"(It feels) horrible missing him, he was a great friend, great teammate," said Abdil Valencia, another friend and teammate.

Soccer was a major part of the junior varsity goaltender's life as his casket was surrounded by soccer jerseys and trophies. Staff members from the high school were also in attendance.

"Wonderful, wonderful young man, as testament just by the number of kids that showed up today to talk about Javier and his life and how he effected their life is just a wonderful thing," said Sarah Weeks, Arlington Heights' principal.

Grief counselors continue to be available on campus. And help has also come from his soccer teammates who raised money in an effort to help pay for the funerals.

"I can't thank our Heights families enough for giving his family this closure and giving them support," Weeks said.

Support and memories that won't fade anytime soon.

"He was the best goal keeper, the best person," Valencia said. "He was really nice, really quiet, he didn't say much words, but everything he did in the game we'll miss him."

The Zacarias family has called for warning signs near the area of the lake where the two men drowned. They say it's been an emotionally difficult last week.

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