More than 500 supporters sat in silence with heads bowed and solemn expressions on their faces on Sunday as they remembered Sparks Middle School teacher Michael Landsberry.

Landsberry, who died in a shooting at the school nearly a year ago, on Sunday was posthumously awarded the Air Force's Airman's Medal and the National Guard Association of the United States' Valley Forge Cross for Heroism

The Airman's Medal ceremony was in the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.

Landsberry, 45, was killed trying to protect others at the school on Oct. 21, 2013.

"That's who he was," Col. David Clark, 152nd airlift wing vice commander with the Nevada Air National Guard, said Sunday.

"He was a very brave man, and he lived by that code," Clark said. "He had a lot of integrity and was one teacher who would put his life on the line for his kids, absolutely."

Clark said he spent 10 years alongside Landsberry, a master sergeant, in the Nevada Air National Guard. Clark also taught social studies in the room next-door from Landsberry at Sparks Middle School for seven years, he said.

"Not only was he a great person, but it was neat to have a comrade in the Air Guard right next-door to me," he said.

Clark said he remembered Landsberry as an "incredible teacher" and an "incredible coach" loved by his students.

"We really miss him at Sparks Middle School," Clark said. "I miss him tremendously."

Brig. Gen. William Burks defined a hero as a person with character, who in the face of danger, shows courage and self-sacrifice instead weakness.

"I believe this definition probably best describes why we're here today to honor Master Sgt. Michael Landsberry," Burks said at the ceremony.

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