Blue balloons, some with messages of love, released into the air by a community mourning a classmate and friend.  

Students, teachers and parents from around the area gathered near a pop-up memorial where 16-year-old Joshua Indorf died in a car crash earlier this week. State troopers shut down the area on Old Hopewell Road in Wappinger so that the community could remember a life lost too early.

J.R., or Josh as he was called by friends and family, was remembered for his infectious smile, and being a person liked by everyone.

"He was the type of person to stand up for people when they were being bullied, or somebody who sat alone, Josh would sit next to him," said Justin Diaz. "That's what everybody loved about Josh."

Diaz says gathering people together on Friday to share stories, hugs and tears is one way to help boost everyone's spirits during a difficult time. When he spoke to the crowd, he had a message to share with his fellow classmates.

"We're taught to drive safe, seat belts, all of those things, and a lot of kids laugh at it. They think it's corny," he said. " 'This is not going to happen here, not going to happen in this town.' And it hit, and I want them to understand that it could have been any one of them, and it could have been their mom crying. It could have been their mom not holding their child. It's unfortunate; nobody deserves to go through that, and I don't want to see it anymore."