SAN DIEGO -- "I want to tell you about a true hero," Capt. Kent Kroeker said of his friend good Capt. Matthew W. Bancroft Thursday.

MARINES KILLED SLIDESHOW: See Pictures Of The Seven Killed DONATIONS Send condolence gifts, call (858) 577-8237/8223. Send monetary donations, call (858) 547-8656.

Thousands of Marines gathered at San Diego's Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, to remember Bancroft, and the six other Marines killed when their hulking KC-130/R Hercules refueling plane crashed into a Pakistani mountainside last week.

Bancroft had piloted the plane.

"A large measure of our innocence has been stolen from us," said Lt. Col. Carl Parker, the commanding officer of the crew's squadron. "Our illusion of invincibility has been shattered."

Gov. Gray Davis attended the private afternoon service, along with U.S. Rep. Susan Davis, D-San Diego; Gen. Michael Williams, the U.S. Marine Corps assistant commandant; and Maj. Gen. Charles Bolden, commander of Miramar's 3rd Marine Air Wing.

In dress uniforms and camouflage fatigues, grim-faced troops passed quietly into the base movie theater for a solemn service with relatives of those who died in the crash.

On the grass outside the theater, the Marine Corps arranged seven pairs of empty black combat boots, M-16 rifles, six flight helmets and one combat helmet, for the radio operator, to honor their fallen colleagues.

On the stage inside were framed photos of the seven Marines, each adorned with a set of military dog tags and a bouquet of flowers.

The service began with an invocation from Rear Adm. Louis V. Iasiello, the head chaplain of the Marine Corps.

"The price of liberty and justice is often paid for with the lives of our nation's youth," Iasiello told the more than 1,500 people in attendance.

His words were followed by a rendition of the hymn "Amazing Grace," readings from the Bible, and remarks by officers from refueling squadron VMGR-352, also known as the Raiders.

Eulogies were given by friends of the six men and one woman who died in the Jan. 9 nighttime crash on a mountainside in southwestern Pakistan.

"We honor you and we swear by the love we have in our hearts for you, we will happily pick up your torch and we will never forget you," Kroeker said.

At the closing of the ceremony, Parker presented flags to the victims' families.

The remains of all seven Marines were flown to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

It has yet to be determined what caused the crash that produced the single largest loss of American life since the start of the Afghanistan action. But military officials said that there is no evidence the plane was downed by enemy fire.

An all-volunteer flight crew departed Miramar with a replacement Hercules last Friday to take the place of the lost Marines.

Killed in the crash were:

Capt. Matthew W. Bancroft, 29, of Redding, command pilot
Capt. Daniel McCollum, 29, of Irmo, S.C., crew's co-pilot
Gunnery Sgt. Stephen L. Bryson, 36, of Montgomery, Ala., flight engineer
Staff Sgt. Scott N. Germosen, 37, of New York City, loadmaster on the aircraft
Sgt. Nathan P. Hays, 21, of Wilburn, Wash., flight mechanic
Lance Cpl. Bryan P. Bertrand, 23, of Coos Bay, Ore., navigator
Sgt. Jeanette L. Winters, 25, of Gary, Ind., radio operator

Throughout the day, a number of San Diegans gathered outside the base to pay their respects and display their gratitude to the Marines for serving their country. A number of signs were placed next to wall, displaying messages of thanks and condolences.

One sign read: "Thank you for fighting for our freedom," and referred to the seven Marines killed as "The Magnificent Seven."

Anyone wishing to send condolence gifts can contact 1st Lt. Torbensen at (858) 577-8237/8223. And if you would like to send monetary donations, contact Angela Ramsey, Marine Air Federal Credit Union, at (858) 547-8656.