The remains of Marine Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola will return home to San Bernardino County on Tuesday. Merola was one of the 13 service members who were killed last month in a bombing at a Kabul airport amid the U.S. evacuation of Afghanistan.
The Rancho Cucamonga native’s remains will arrive in Ontario Tuesday evening, followed by a procession to Forest Lawn in Covina.
A public service for the 20-year-old will be held Sunday, Sept. 26. Details have not yet been shared on a GoFundMe organized to help the family cover expenses.
“Ever since he was a young child he would watch the military channel, wear military attire and want nothing more than to become a Marine,” Cheryl Rex, Marola’s mother said at a Sept. 2 vigil for her son.
“Dylan always had a smile on his face and loved everyone. With the most loving and caring heart, he was the kindest person that anyone could have ever met.”
Rex said Merola graduated from Los Osos High School in 2019 and joined the Marines to serve his country and go into a career in engineering.
Merola will be honored by the City of Rancho Cucamonga at a future council meeting. The City also plans to display an armed forces banner in his name, “embellished with the gold star, reserved for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our Nation,” the city said in a statement.
Merola is one of three San Bernardino County natives who died in the Aug. 26 attack. Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, and Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, 20, were also killed.
The Associated Press shared images of family and friends mourning the three servicemen in weekend funeral services and memorials.
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