On March 20th, the City of Temecula learned the tragic news that Staff Sergeant Louis F. Cardin, of Temecula, California, died the morning of March 19  as the result of enemy ISIS rocket fire at a base near Makhmour, southeast of the City of Mosulin, in northern Iraq. Cardin, assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, enlisted in the Marine Corps upon graduating from Chaparral High School in 2006.  Serving 10 years in the Marine Corps, including three previous deployments to Afghanistan and one to Iraq, Cardin is an American hero.

“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. Cardin is forever a hero to Temecula and to our nation,” added Mayor Naggar.

Cardin will be returning to Southern California via March Air Force Base on March 26, 2016 at approximately 1:00 p.m.  Upon arrival, he will be greeted and honorably escorted from March Air Force Base to Hemet.  The anticipated path of travel is I-215 to CA-74.  The public is welcome and encouraged to show their patriotism and respect for Cardin by waving American flags along the route and at freeway overpasses at safe, legal pedestrian areas.  Out of respect, details regarding private family memorials will not be provided. However, the Cardin family appreciates and gratefully welcomes the support of the community at the public viewing of his closed casket planned as follows:

Closed Casket Public Viewing

Staff Sergeant Louis F. Cardin
Friday, April 1, 2016
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
City of Temecula City Hall Town Square
41000 Main Street, Temecula CA
(Parking Available in the Garage Adjacent to City Hall)

At 8:00 a.m., a few brief heartfelt remarks will be provided.  Following the remarks, and continuously until 12:00 p.m., the public is welcome to honor Cardin with a moment of silence and reflection as they view and pass by the closed casket.  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 City Hall bells at precisely 12:00 p.m.

To further honor 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. In lieu of flowers, the Cardin family requests that donations be made in honor of their son and others who have sacrificed all.

For information regarding the closed casket public viewing at City Hall, please contact City Clerk Randi Johl at 951-694-6421.

For information on how to donate funds in support of constructing a permanent memorial in Temecula to honor Cardin and the fallen heroes of Temecula, please contact Veterans of Foreign Wars-Temecula at 951-676-1541 or donate directly to the GoFundMe account at https://www.gofundme.com/pwvhj47n which has been set up for this purpose.