The hearse carrying the remains of 22-year-old U.S. Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, one of the 13 American service members killed last month in Kabul, Afghanistan, passes by saluting Riverside Sheriff deputies outside the Palm Desert Sheriff Station in Palm Desert on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021. Lopez was the son of Riverside County Sheriff Captain Herman Lopez and Deputy Alicia Lopez. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Waving American flags and cheering, people lined Coachella Valley streets Thursday evening, Sept. 16, to honor their beloved hometown Marine, Cpl. Hunter Lopez.
Lopez was one of 13 U.S. service members killed in action in the Aug. 26 bombing attack at the Kabul, Afghanistan, airport. He was 22.
Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, a 22-year-old from Indio, was killed in the Aug. 26, 2021, bombing at Afghanistan’s Kabul airport. (Courtesy of Riverside Sheriff’s Association)
On Thursday, residents gathered along the streets of Cathedral City, Palm Desert and La Quinta for the first part of a two-day funeral procession that began at the Forest Lawn cemetery in Cathedral City. It traveled past the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station on Gerald Ford Drive — where Lopez once served as a Sheriff’s Explorer Scout — and ended at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in La Quinta.
People held large flags and signs with Lopez’s name as they lined the street in front of the sheriff’s station, waiting for the procession. The 100-degree plus heat didn’t stop them from saluting their local hero.
Patrol cars in front of the station flashed their lights. Flags were at half-staff. Cars driving by honked their horns and Cal Fire trucks sounded their alarms.
Police cars from Hemet, Murrieta, Blythe, Menifee, Ontario, Redlands and other Riverside County and San Bernardino cities followed the procession.
Rancho Mirage resident Karen Stickles stood by for more than an hour.
Residents pay their respects as the memorial procession for 22-year-old U.S. Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, one of the 13 American service members killed last month in Kabul, Afghanistan, passes by the Palm Desert Sheriff station in Palm Desert on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The hearse carrying the remains of 22-year-old U.S. Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, one of the 13 American service members killed last month in Kabul, Afghanistan, passes by saluting Riverside Sheriff deputies outside the Palm Desert Sheriff Station in Palm Desert on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021. Lopez was the son of Riverside County Sheriff Captain Herman Lopez and Deputy Alicia Lopez. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Robert Elliott, with the Air National Guard from March Air Reserve Base, salutes as he pays his respects as the memorial procession for 22-year-old U.S. Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, one of the 13 American service members killed last month in Kabul, Afghanistan, passes by the Palm Desert Sheriff’s station in Palm Desert on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Chris Ballinger (left) and his mother Janis Ballinger, both from Palm Springs, put a flag on their vehicle prior to the memorial procession for 22-year-old U.S. Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, one of the 13 American service members killed last month in Kabul, Afghanistan outside the Palm Desert Sheriff’s station in Palm Desert on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Flags fly at half staff outside the Palm Desert Sheriff’s station prior to a memorial procession for 22-year-old U.S. Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, one of the 13 American service members killed last month in Kabul, Afghanistan, in Palm Desert on Thursday, Sep. 16, 2021. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A woman holds a pair of flags as she waits for the memorial procession for 22-year-old U.S. Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, one of the 13 American service members killed last month in Kabul, Afghanistan, to pass by the Palm Desert Sheriff’s station in Palm Desert on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021. Lopez was the son of Riverside County Sheriff Captain Herman Lopez and Deputy Alicia Lopez. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The memorial procession for 22-year-old U.S. Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, one of the 13 American service members killed last month in Kabul, Afghanistan, slowly passes by the Palm Desert Sheriff’s station in Palm Desert on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A young girl holds a flag as she waits for the memorial procession for 22-year-old U.S. Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, one of the 13 American service members killed last month in Kabul, Afghanistan, to pass by the Palm Desert Sheriff’s station in Palm Desert on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A man waves a Marine flag as the memorial procession for 22-year-old U.S. Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, one of the 13 American service members killed last month in Kabul, Afghanistan, passes by the Palm Desert Sheriff’s station in Palm Desert on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Members of the Riverside Sheriff’s department salute as the memorial procession for 22-year-old U.S. Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, one of the 13 American service members killed last month in Kabul, Afghanistan, passes by the Palm Desert Sheriff’s station in Palm Desert on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A vehicle with an American flag speeds by the Palm Desert Sheriff’s station prior to the memorial procession for 22-year-old U.S. Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, one of the 13 American service members killed last month in Kabul, Afghanistan, in Palm Desert on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Members of the Riverside Sheriff’s department salute as the memorial procession for 22-year-old U.S. Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, one of the 13 American service members killed last month in Kabul, Afghanistan, passes by the Palm Desert Sheriff’s station in Palm Desert on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Residents pay their respects as the memorial procession for 22-year-old U.S. Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, one of the 13 American service members killed last month in Kabul, Afghanistan, passes by the Palm Desert Sheriff’s station in Palm Desert on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Janis Ballinger, from Palm Springs, puts a flag on a vehicle prior to the memorial procession for 22-year-old U.S. Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, one of the 13 American service members killed last month in Kabul, Afghanistan outside the Palm Desert Sheriff’s station in Palm Desert on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Residents pay their respects as the memorial procession for 22-year-old U.S. Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, one of the 13 American service members killed last month in Kabul, Afghanistan, passes by the Palm Desert Sheriff’s station in Palm Desert on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A statue with a Marine-themed flag is seen outside the Palm Desert Sheriff’s station prior to the memorial procession for 22-year-old U.S. Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, one of the 13 American service members killed last month in Kabul, Afghanistan, in Palm Desert on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Members of the Riverside Sheriff’s department salute as the memorial procession for 22-year-old U.S. Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, one of the 13 American service members killed last month in Kabul, Afghanistan, passes by the Palm Desert Sheriff’s station in Palm Desert on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Fire department members salute as the memorial procession for 22-year-old U.S. Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, one of the 13 American service members killed last month in Kabul, Afghanistan, slowly passes by the Palm Desert Sheriff’s station in Palm Desert on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Residents pay their respects as the memorial procession for 22-year-old U.S. Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, one of the 13 American service members killed last month in Kabul, Afghanistan, passes by the Palm Desert Sheriff’s station in Palm Desert on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Members of the Riverside Sheriff’s department and others pay their respects as the memorial procession for 22-year-old U.S. Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, one of the 13 American service members killed last month in Kabul, Afghanistan, passes by the Palm Desert Sheriff’s station in Palm Desert on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
“I feel emotional just being here,” Stickles said. “People are here in the 100-degree heat. The way the world is right now, I think this a nice way to come together, show love and support for something that shouldn’t have happened.”
Palm Desert resident Pam Bradshaw came to the sheriff’s station with her dog, an Irish setter named Wendy. She said her parents served in the Army and, because of that, she “needed to be here.”
Bradshaw said she was “heartbroken for the families” when she heard what happened in Kabul.
“It could have been anyone,” she said.
A hearse carrying the body of Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez passes by the Riverside County Sheriff’s station in Palm Desert on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021. (Photo by Allyson Escobar, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
As the sun set, sheriff’s deputies, police and others in the crowd were silent as the hearse passed by, flanked by officers.
It was one of several events throughout the month to remember Lopez.
The crowd has began to grow outside of the Palm Desert Sheriff Station for the memorial procession for 22-year-old U.S. Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez, one of the 13 American servicemembers killed last month in Kabul, Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/0ORTiZi42G
Lopez was born in Palm Springs on Jan. 15, 1999, a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department news release states. He grew up in Indio and was the son of Riverside County Sheriff’s Capt. Herman Lopez, La Quinta’s police chief, and Deputy Alicia Lopez, the Riverside Sheriff’s Association’s board secretary.
Lopez graduated from La Quinta High School in 2017.
“Hunter dedicated his life to service and took pride in being part of organizations with a rich tradition,” the release said.
Soon after, Lopez joined the Marines and served longest on the Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team Company A, 5th Platoon. He was most recently a member of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Golf Company, 1st Platoon, 3rd squad, according to the sheriff’s release.
Lopez served in the Marines for four years before his death.
The release described him as a hard worker, someone who was “devoted to serving others” and always striving for perfection, knowledge and experience. The young Marine was a history buff and a Star Wars fan. He was shy, with an “infectious smile and amazing personality,” the release states.
Lopez aspired to follow in his parents’ footsteps to become a sheriff’s deputy.
“He lived life to the fullest and was often the reason why family and friends would bend over backwards to get together when he was around,” the release said. “Hunter lived a full life in a short amount of time, he impacted so many lives and has left a lasting impression on family, friends, and his brothers and sisters in arms.”
Lopez is also survived by his siblings Owen and Trinity.
The association requests that donations be made to the Riverside County Deputy Sheriff Relief Foundation in the name of the Lopez family. The address is 21810 Cactus Ave., Riverside, CA 92518.
Lopez’s memorial procession will continue Friday, Sept. 17, leaving from St. Francis of Assisi church. It is scheduled to move past three schools Lopez attended: Amelia Earhart Elementary and John Glenn Middle School in Indio, and La Quinta High School. A public viewing will be at St. Francis from noon to 7 p.m.
On Saturday, Sept. 18, a live-streamed memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. and originate from the Palm Springs Convention Center. Lopez will be buried privately later that day at Riverside National Cemetery.
Brittany Markarian and children Kylie, Easton, Brayden, Avery and baby Maycie came from Moreno Valley for the Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, procession. They donned red, white and blue and waved flags. (Photo by Allyson Escobar, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Thursday night on the procession route, Brittany Markarian brought her children Kylie, Easton, Brayden, Avery and baby Maycie from Moreno Valley. As the cars passed, the family stayed silent, out of respect.
“Our condolences are to the Lopez family, so that they know that we appreciate their son’s sacrifice,” she said. “I want to show my kids that freedom isn’t free.”
