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Heroism marked the last moments of US Marine Cpl. The life of Hunter Lopez, said a Riverside County Deputy Sheriff on Saturday, September 18, at the start of a memorial service honoring and thanking the fallen 22-year-old Indian native.
Three days of memorable Lopez events continued on Saturday with a massive service underway at the Palm Spring Convention Center.
The 2017 La Quinta High School graduate was one of 13 U.S. servicemen killed in attack at Kabul airport last month as the United States withdrew from Afghanistan. Two other Inland Empire Marines, Cpl. Karim Nikoui, from Norco; and Cpl. Dylan merola, from Rancho Cucamonga, were also killed.
After the 11 a.m. ceremony ends, a procession will head to Riverside National Cemetery for Lopez’s private burial.
Lopez was part of a special crisis response team sent to provide security and help State Department officials process thousands of people a day at the airport gates. Her mother, Alicia Lopez, is Deputy Sheriff of Riverside County and Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Riverside Sheriff’s Association. His father, Capt. Herman Lopez of the Riverside County Sheriff, is the La Quinta Police Chief.
In a statement, the Lopez family said the news of their son’s death was “the news that no parent wants to receive.”
“Our family is overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and condolences we have received following Hunter’s sudden passing,” the couple added. “Please know that Hunter wore the uniform of the United States Marines with love and pride, and it is very evident that the community will never forget his sacrifice and our family.”
Herman and Alicia Lopez also thanked everyone who donated to the Riverside County Deputy Sheriff Relief Foundation on behalf of their son, as well as those who sent them bouquets of flowers and posted heartfelt messages on social media.
“Whether it is to watch us, pray, make donations in honor of Hunter,” they added, “we will always be grateful for all of you.”
Memorial service for 22 year old US Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, one of 13 U.S. servicemen killed last month in Kabul, Afghanistan, is being held at the Palm Springs Convention Center. pic.twitter.com/2NGGos8ags
– TERRY PIERSON (@Fotogodterry) September 18, 2021
Hunter Lopez was a Sheriff’s Explorer Scout at Palm Desert Station and after enlisting he was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines. He planned to join the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department like his parents after his deployment ends, according to a statement from the Sheriff’s Association.
The history buff loved Star Wars, often asking others about the films, according to a press release.
A Thursday September 16, procession drew residents with American flags on a route from a Cathedral City mortuary, past the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Post, and finally to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in La Quinta. A similar procession passed on Friday, September 17, through three Coachella Valley schools that Lopez has already attended.
Earlier this month, Indio organized a candlelight vigil for Lopez in front of the Indio town hall.
Nikoui, the Norco Marine, was in the spotlight on Saturday morning at a memorial service at Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside. And Merola, the native of Rancho Cucamonga, will be honored with a procession on Tuesday, September 21. His memorial service is scheduled for Sunday, September 26.
Editor-in-chief David Downey contributed to this report.
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