CPL. CHRISTOPHER LEON UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS IRAQ CASUALTY, ALUMNUS REMEMBERED.Byline: KAREN MAESHIRO Staff Writer LANCASTER -- A white cloth was lifted Monday from a black granite monument at Lancaster High School Lancaster High School may refer to:
On the shiny rectangular 950-pound rock slab were inscribed in·scribe tr.v. in·scribed, in·scrib·ing, in·scribes 1. a. To write, print, carve, or engrave (words or letters) on or in a surface. b. To mark or engrave (a surface) with words or letters. the words, "We Remember," a lasered image of the American flag, the Statue of Liberty Statue of Liberty great symbolic structure in New York harbor. [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 284] See : America Statue of Liberty perhaps the most famous monument to independence. [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 284] See : Freedom , the World Trade Center twin towers, the Pentagon and Leon's name. "I just want to say thank you for coming today. The turnout is more than we could ever imagine," Kathi Leon told the crowd that gathered to honor her son on the school's front lawn. She wore around her neck a memorial dog tag embossed em·boss tr.v. em·bossed, em·boss·ing, em·boss·es 1. To mold or carve in relief: emboss a design on a coin. 2. with her son's photograph. "Chris would be astonished a·ston·ish tr.v. as·ton·ished, as·ton·ish·ing, as·ton·ish·es To fill with sudden wonder or amazement. See Synonyms at surprise. at the turnout and the love and support shown for him. I wish he could be here to see it. I wish we didn't have to do it this way." Lancaster High Air Force Junior ROTC cadets raised $3,500 to purchase and install the monument in front of the school's flag pole. At Tuesday's unveiling ceremony, 200 cadets dressed in crisp blue uniforms stood in formation in neat rows behind where Kathi Leon and other guests sat in chairs. The program has 263 cadets, the largest in California. "Not a day goes by that we don't read or see on the news stories about people who made the ultimate sacrifice," Cadet Dustin Malcolm said. "Cpl. Leon's death brought this war very close to home. We can't imagine how hard his death is for his family and friends." "Chris lived an honorable life, a life of strength and bravery, a life of service, a life again that is worthy of honor," said the Rev. David Parker of Desert Vineyard Church. Leon, a 20-year-old Marine corporal, died June 20, 2006, of wounds suffered during combat in Iraq's western al-Anbar province. Leon had been serving with the 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company ANGLICO (Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company) refers to several small units of the United States Marine Corps who specialize in coordinating artillery, naval gunfire and Close Air Support for the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, and allied foreign Armed Forces. , based in Okinawa, a unit that directs aircraft and artillery gunfire against enemy targets. Leon was remembered as a quiet, dependable, helpful teen at his school and at the pet store where he worked stocking shelves during high school and after graduation until he joined the Marines. Leon is among six servicemen who grew up in the Antelope Valley to die in Iraq. Army Spc. Walter Freeman Jr., 20, a 2004 graduate of Antelope Valley High School Antelope Valley High School is located in Lancaster, California and is part of the Antelope Valley Union High School District. It was founded in 1912[1]. It is located in the Mojave Desert. , was killed in Baghdad on April 4, when an improvised explosive device Noun 1. improvised explosive device - an explosive device that is improvised I.E.D., IED explosive device - device that bursts with sudden violence from internal energy detonated near his vehicle. On March 17, Army Sgt. John E. Allen, 25, and three other soldiers were killed in Baghdad when a roadside bomb detonated near their vehicle. A 1999 Palmdale High graduate, Allen was survived by his wife, Aspen. Army Cpl. Ryan J. Clark, 19, a 2004 Antelope Valley High School graduate, died in July 2006 in an Army hospital in Texas of wounds he suffered from an explosion while fighting in Iraq. Clark, 19, had been injured June 17 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations in Ramadi, an insurgent INSURGENT. One who is concerned in an insurrection. He differs from a rebel in this, that rebel is always understood in a bad sense, or one who unjustly opposes the constituted authorities; insurgent may be one who justly opposes the tyranny of constituted authorities. hot spot in the "Sunni Triangle" west of Baghdad. Two local Marines died in Iraq in 2004. Staff Sgt. Allan Walker, a 28-year-old Highland High School Highland High School or Highlands High School may refer to: In the United States:
Cpl. Ian Stewart, a 2001 Quartz Hill High School Quartz Hill High School is a public, co-educational high school located in Lancaster, California. Founded in 1964, it is the third oldest comprehensive high school in the Antelope Valley High School District (AVHSD). graduate whose father is executive director of a Christian camp and conference center in Lake Hughes, died in a December 2004 gunbattle. karen.maeshiro@dailynews.com (661) 267-5744 CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) Christopher Leon's mother, Kathi, and father, Jim, stand next to a monument to their son. Lancaster High School Air Force Junior ROTC Cadets Maj. Jorge Sajardo, 17, left, and Cadet Lt. Col. Adam Parra, 17, stand behind the monument. At a ceremony at the school on Tuesday, they honored Christopher Leon, a 2004 graduate who died in Iraq in June. (2) Christopher Leon, a 2004 graduate of Lancaster High School, died of wounds he suffered in combat in Iraq's west al-Anbar province in June. Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer |
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