Hunter Lopez Lightsaber Vigil, Save the Date

Special Lightsaber Vigil to Honor All Service Who Made Ultimate Sacrifice

LA QUINTA — Valley residents are encouraged to join city leaders n honoring Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez and all the brave service members who made the ultimate sacrifice during the August 2021 attack at Kabul airport.

Attendees will gather for a special Lightsaber Vigil to remember their service, courage, and dedication to our country.

Their ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and safety will never be forgotten. The community is welcome to join in a respectful atmosphere of remembrance and solidarity. City leaders also encourage guests to bring a framed photo of a loved one who served in the military or as a first responder. A space will be created to honor all who have dedicated their lives to service, and to pay respect to their memory.

The deadly attack on the international airport in Kabul on Aug. 26, 2021 was felt at the core of the Coachella Valley as news broke that a local man was among the 13 U.S. service members killed during the bomb attack, according to the Riverside Sheriff’s Association.

The Marine Corps said 11 of the 13 Americans killed were Marines. One was a Navy sailor and one an Army soldier.

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, was from a family with roots in the Coachella Valley. He is the son of two Riverside County Sheriff’s Department employees.