Norco ceremony honors fallen Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui

As the prima dipped beneath the skyline down equestrian arena grandstands, Norco grieved the mounting of 1 of its ain sons, Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Mae’Lee Grant Nikoui, who was killed in an attack connected Afghanistan’s Kabul airdrome connected Aug. 26.

Nikoui, a 2019 Norco High postgraduate was described arsenic a “strong person,” who “held nary grudges,” and had “a emotion for kids,” Pastor Phil Wozniak said. The fallen Marine’s parent told Wozniak that he’d gone backmost to prevention a kid erstwhile the weaponry went off.

The Saturday, Sept. 4 remembrance ceremonial astatine George Ingalls Equestrian Event Center besides honored the 12 different work members who died successful that attack, including 2 different Marines from the Inland area, Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga and Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio.

The household has had a beardown beingness successful the metropolis of Norco.

It was Nikoui’s relative who built the city’s Gold Star mothers memorial, Norco Mayor Kevin Bash told the gathered crowd, and Nikoui was sworn into the Marine Corps successful this arena. We are present to enactment the family, helium said, “we grieve with them.”

Shana Chappell, center, and Steve Nikoui, right, parents of of slain Marine Lance Cpl Kareem Nikoui, be a remembrance ceremonial Saturday night, Sept. 4, 2021, honoring their lad astatine George Ingalls Equestrian Event Center successful Norco. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Wozniak, with Grace Fellowship Church, Mayor Bash and each the speakers, wanted to marque definite the household felt the community’s support. At 1 constituent Nikoui’s parents, Shana Chappell and Steve Nikoui, who were seated successful the beforehand row, were asked to basal to spot each who came successful enactment of them.

Nikoui, 20, served successful the field Air Force Jr. ROTC astatine Norco High. Former Norco High AFJROTC pupil Ashley Lopez played “Taps.”

Chaplin Ray Parker, American Legion Post 328, led those gathered successful prayer, and Major Paul Lorkowski, Norco High AFJROTC shared a remembrance. Gold Star widow Kim Lovett sang the National Anthem, “Amazing Grace” and “The Prayer.”

The assemblage came “to grant our veterans,” Norco nonmigratory Joel Notick said. The ample turnout, helium said, shows “we’re a beardown community.”

The names of the 13 fallen work members were work and Larry Cusimano with the George A. Ingalls Veterans Memorial Plaza Committee performed a doorbell ringing ceremony.

Norco nonmigratory Kim Raze, the parent of a veteran, brought her daughter’s Rottweiler Axyle to the event. “He had nary thought helium wasn’t coming home,” she said of the fallen Marine. “He gave his beingness and it changed his family’s beingness forever. He’s our hometown hero.”

Though she doesn’t cognize the family, Raze said being the parent of a veteran, “I cognize his mama. Our hearts break, we’re truthful arrogant and we’re truthful breached astatine the aforesaid time,” she said, nearing tears. “We emotion him truthful precise much.”

The lawsuit ended aft the prima went down with a infinitesimal of soundlessness successful the brushed airy of glowsticks.

The assemblage has rallied astir the household aft quality of the Afghanistan blast arrived.

Last week, successful the hills supra the equestrian arena, hundreds hiked to section landmark Pumpkin Rock to grant Nikoui.

Nikoui’s parent drew nationalist attraction this week pursuing her comments connected societal media astir President Joe Biden, saying the president rolled his eyes erstwhile gathering with families of slain work members and that her son’s humor is connected his hands.

Nikoui volition beryllium brought location connected Friday, Sept. 17.

The accomplishment astatine Ontario International Airport volition beryllium backstage for the family, however, Honoring Our Fallen encourages members of the assemblage to enactment the procession way with flags to Pierce Brothers Crestlawn Mortuary successful Riverside.

From the airdrome astir noon, the Fallen Hero Procession volition spell southbound connected Vineyard Avenue, near onto the eastbound 60 Freeway, southbound connected the 15 Freeway, near onto Sixth Street successful Norco, near onto California Avenue, and close onto North Drive/Arlington Avenue. The mortuary is astatine 11500 Arlington Ave.

Funeral services volition beryllium held astatine a aboriginal date.

Other vigils and tributes for the the fallen Marines are planned successful the coming days.

• A classical car and motortruck cruise is planned for 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 5, astatine TGI Fridays, 2795 Cabot Drive successful Corona. The 28-mile people done Corona, Riverside and Norco was organized by Performance Online, and participants are encouraged to show U.S. flags. Donations to enactment the household of Nikoui volition beryllium collected astatine the event.

• A memorial march is acceptable for 3:45 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 5, successful San Clemente to enactment Camp Pendleton Marines. The march volition determination from El Camino Real down Avenida Del Mar to Park Semper Fi adjacent the Pier Bowl. Names of the fallen volition beryllium read.

Staff writer Jeff Horseman contributed to this report.