Public Invited to Pay Respects to Fallen Temecula Marine, Louis F. Cardin

TEMECULA, CA- The public is invited Friday to pay their respects to a local Marine who was killed in action earlier this month.

Staff Sgt. Louis F. Cardin was killed March 19 in an Islamic State attack on a fire support base near Makhmour, in northern Iraq, according to military officials. He was brought home March 26.

• 'Local Hero': Community, Leaders Mourn Temecula Marine Killed in Iraq

Cardin enlisted in the Marines after he graduated from Chaparral High School in 2006, according to city officials.

“The City of Temecula is deeply saddened to learn that one of our hometown high school graduates, who grew up to be the bravest of warriors, died protecting our Nation’s freedoms,” stated Temecula Mayor Mike Naggar. “With profound respect and heartfelt honor for his ultimate sacrifice, our City’s sincerest condolences are with his parents, family, friends and the Marine Corps. SSgt Cardin is forever a hero to Temecula and to our Nation."

To allow his hometown community a chance to say goodbye, the city is hosting a closed casket public viewing on Friday, April 1.

"...the Cardin family appreciates and gratefully welcomes the support of the community at the public viewing of his closed casket..." the city announced.

Here are some more details on the event, as provided by the City of Temecula:

Closed Casket Public Viewing
Friday, April 1, 2016, 8:00am
City of Temecula, City Hall Town Square
41000 Main Street, Temecula CA
(Parking available in the garage adjacent to City Hall)

SCHEDULE:

• 8:00 a.m.:
  Color Guard
  4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion
  
  National Anthem
  Sergeant Ixchel Perez, 1st Marine Division Band
  
  Words of Tribute
  Congressman Ken Calvert
  Senator Jeff Stone
  Assembly Member Marie Waldron
  Supervisor Chuck Washington
  Mayor Mike Naggar
  Manny Toledo, Family Representative
  
  Public Viewing
  Following the Words of Tribute, and continuously until 12:00pm (with Crossed Cannons Ceremony at 10:00am), the public is welcome to honor SSgt Cardin with a moment of silence and reflection as they pass by the closed casket
  
  

• 10:00 a.m.:
  Crossed Cannons Ceremony
  Artillery Men's Send Off To Fiddler's Green
  
  Public Viewing
  (Cont'd)
  
  

• 12:00 p.m.:
  Taps
  Taps, which is played to honor the men and women who have laid down their lives and paid the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of freedom, will be played in lieu of clock tower chimes at City Hall at precisely noon by Sergeant Eric Gonzales, 1st Marine Division Band

"To further honor SSgt Cardin, Temecula City Council Members Jeff Comerchero and Michael McCracken, both veterans and members of the City’s Ad Hoc Military Subcommittee, with support of the full Temecula City Council, have created a fund through the Veterans of Foreign Wars to build a permanent memorial in Temecula that represents our fallen heroes," according to the city. "In lieu of flowers, the Cardin family requests that donations be made in honor of their son and others who have sacrificed all."

Cardin is scheduled to be interred at Riverside National Cemetery.