Community mourns fallen Marine

(From the Signal) While parents of a young soldier killed in Afghanistan wait to learn how he died, a community has provided them one irrefutable reminder — their son was loved. Scores of well wishers descended on a tiny, quiet cul-de-sac in Stevenson Ranch on Wednesday night to show how much they care about U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Jake William Suter, who died on Saturday morning in local Afghanistan time, after only five days in the war-torn country.

The young Marine’s vigil extended this year’s Memorial Day, as many of those who turned out Monday at Eternal Valley Memorial Park to pay their respect to fallen heroes met again on this hilly suburban street to pay respect to our community’s latest hero.

Against a slide show of Suter’s life, speakers such as Congressman Howard “Buck” McKeon, R-Santa Clarita, took turns reflecting on the young man’s courage and pride. “They’re showing a great courage, the same great courage that Jake has shown us,” McKeon said about the young man’s parents.

Chris Unthank, Suter’s stepfather, was unable to hold back tears when asked before the vigil to reflect on Wednesday’s ceremony.

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