The procession will depart Santa Clarita Baptist Church, following the funeral, traveling west on Soledad Canyon Road to McBean Parkway, turning south to Orchard Village Road, then onto Lyons Avenue, and onto Newhall Avenue, past the Veterans Historical Plaza, where it will travel to Sierra Highway and onto Eternal Valley cemetery for the burial of Specialist Acosta.
Acosta, a combat medic, died Saturday, March 19, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when he and Cpl. Donald R. Mickler Jr., 29, of Ohio, were allegedly shot with small-arms fire by an individual from a military security group, according to a statement from the Department of Defense.
Acosta was posthumously promoted to the rank of Specialist.
After graduating from Santa Clarita Christian School in 2009, Acosta completed Army basic training on Aug. 11, 2009, and was deployed to Afghanistan on June 10. He served as a health care specialist.
During his years at Santa Clarita Christian, he played on the volleyball and football teams. The community is encouraged to honor Specialist Acosta and his family by attending the funeral and/or by lining the procession route, and bringing along American flags.
“I would really like to see our community turn out to honor this fallen soldier who has given so much to our country and our community,” commented Councilmember Bob Kellar.
“We can’t bring Rudy back, but we can serve the Acosta family with honor,” a letter from Principal Derek Swales reads. “Just as Rudy served our school, our city and our country!” he added.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to the Rudy A. Acosta Memorial Foundation and mailed to: Santa Clarita Baptist Church, 27249 Luther in Santa Clarita, CA 91351.