‘Hunter Lopez Lightsaber Vigil’ honors the late Marine’s life and service

A lightsaber vigil was held Monday evening to honor the life and service of Marine Corporal Hunter Lopez and his twelve fellow service members who tragically lost their lives in the August 2021 attack at Kabul airport in Afghanistan. Lopez's parents spoke with News Channel Three's Tori King about what the vigil means to them.

"What hurts us is the fact that we have to see our children go through this, and have to experience having a vigil for their brother," said Alicia Lopez, his mother. "As a parent, you can't take that pain away from them as as much as you would like. And so, you know, we're grateful for the community out there and the love that they show our children and our son, Hunter, the support is overwhelming, and it's always beautiful to see." Herman Lopez, his father, says the vigil is a way to keep his and his fellow fallen service members' memories alive.

"They support what the mission is, which is to continue to help military families," said Lopez. "They've been there from day one, from hour one. What Hunter was involved in, and what all the service members, men and women that were involved during that airlift did, was heroic. Thousands of people, Americans and Afghans, were saved and were able to leave an uncertain future in Afghanistan.  They impacted more lives than we can ever imagine."

The event took place Monday, at the La Quinta Civic Center Campus. The vigil kicked off at 7:00 p.m. and the entire community was invited to come together to remember their ultimate sacrifice.

Lopez was both a beloved Coachella Valley resident and a passionate Star Wars fan, which is why he will be honored with a lightsaber vigil specifically.

According to the city, a lightsaber vigil is a symbol of unity and remembrance for all who served and sacrificed. Attendees are encouraged to bring lightsabers to create a powerful and visual display of support. Mayor Linda Evans will be in attendance along with several other city officials.

“We are honored to host this annual event to remember the extraordinary life of Hunter Lopez and to show our gratitude to all who served our country,” said Evans. “This vigil is a testament to our community’s unwavering support for our military heroes.” Remarks by the Mayor and City Council will be followed by guest speakers Lieutenant Frank Velasco from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office and Fire Battalion Chief Justin Karp from the Riverside County Fire Department. The event will also include an acknowledgement of the Gold Star Family Monument honoring Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. James Perez.

During the vigil, musical performances were provided by Sergeant Bryan Whitley, featuring “Think About the Thirteen” by Colby Lee Swift, “Hurt” by Johnny Cash, and “Dancing in the Sky” by Dani and Lizzy. A special performance of “Amazing Grace” was offered by Doug Hassett.

The vigil was free for all to attend, and the city provided several hundred free lightsabers for attendees.