LA QUINTA, CA — The Postal Service and Representative Raul Ruiz held a dedication ceremony on Wednesday, May 28, at the La Quinta Post Office in honor of Corporal Hunter Lopez, USMC, who was killed in action in Afghanistan. The ceremony dedicated the facility located at 79125 Corporate Centre Dr, La Quinta, CA, as the “Corporal Hunter Lopez Memorial Post Office Building.”

Participants included Representative Raul Ruiz, acting Manager Post Office Operations Oscar Gonzalez, La Quinta Mayor Linda Evans, and Cpl. Lopez’ parents Herman and Alicia. Family, friends, and community attended the moving event to celebrate a heroic young man and his service to our country.

“Corporal Hunter Lopez embodied the very best of our nation’s values, service, courage, and selflessness,” said Congressman Raul Ruiz (CA-25). “In the final moments of his life, he was committed to saving others during the largest airlift in history. With the La Quinta Post Office now bearing his name, we ensure that his legacy lives on in the heart of our region. May every person who passes through these doors remember his extraordinary sacrifice and enduring love for his country and community.”

Corporal Hunter Lopez was a native of the Palm Desert region. He was born in Palm Springs in 1999 and raised in Indio. Both of Lopez’ parents served in law enforcement, and he also served as a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Explorer Scout from 2014-2017.  After graduating from La Quinta High School, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and was deployed to Afghanistan.

Cpl. Lopez was a member of 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Golf Company, 1st Platoon, 3rd squad serving in Afghanistan. His compassion and commitment to helping others was evident during his service, as shown in one example with a story of how he carried a lost boy for miles to safety.

On August 26, 2021, Hunter lost his life in a suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. Just prior to the bombing, he saved two young girls from the pressing, chaotic crowds. His heroic actions earned him posthumous recognition, including the Purple Heart, among other meritorious awards, alongside the other service members who perished in the same attack.

“Having our Post Office named for someone like Corporal Lopez, who gave his life to protect freedom and bring peace, is a tremendous honor,” said Manager, Post Office Operations Oscar Gonzalez. “Our team at La Quinta is proud to have this building stand as a memorial in his name.”

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