Remains of Marine Killed in Afghanistan Coming to Forest Lawn Covina Hills

COVINA (CNS) - The body of Marine Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, who was among 13 service members killed in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan, will be returned to the Southland today and carried in a procession to Forest Lawn Covina Hills.

Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga in San Bernardino County, died Aug. 26 in the attack at Kabul Airport that also killed 10 other Marines, a U.S. Navy corpsman and a U.S. Army soldier, along with more than 100 Afghanis.

Two other Southland Marines -- Lance Cpl. Kareem Grant Nikoui, 20, of Norco, and Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio -- also died in the attack.

According to San Bernardino County officials, a procession carrying Merola's remains will depart Ontario International Airport at about 5:45 p.m. Tuesday bound for Covina. Authorities urged residents to show their support by lining the procession's route with flags to honor the fallen Marine.

From the airport, the procession will travel:

-- east on Mission Boulevard;

-- north on Haven Avenue;

-- east on Sixth Street;

-- north on Milliken Avenue;

-- east on Vintage Drive;

-- north on Rochester Avenue;

-- west on Banyan Street, traveling past Los Osos High School, which Merola attended;

-- north on Milliken Avenue;

-- west curve onto Wilson Avenue;

-- south onto Haven Avenue;

-- west on the 210 Freeway;

-- south on the 57 Freeway;

-- west on the 10 Freeway, exiting at Via Verde Street; and

-- ending at Forest Lawn Covina Hills, 21300 Via Verde St.

The arrival of Merola's remains at the airport will be a private event reserved for the family.

A public funeral service for Merola will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Forest Lawn, followed by a private burial service.

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