Menifee Welcomes Home Fallen Marine Christopher Ruiz

Hundreds of people lined Encanto Drive Saturday morning holding flags and signs in tribute to Menifee resident and U.S. Marine Christopher Ruiz, who died in a plane crash in Afghanistan Oct. 2.

Family members were joined by friends, neighbors and others who heard about the effort to pay tribute to Ruiz and his family as the body arrived in a procession to Evans-Brown Mortuary. Ruiz, 29 and a resident of the Heritage Lake community of Menifee, is survived by his wife Lorelyn and three young children.

Members of the Patriot Guard Riders helped escort the funeral procession. Moments earlier, a crew of firefighters stood atop their engine with a giant flag on the Highway 74 West overpass as the procession passed by.

Details regarding the Oct 19 funeral, a memorial hike on Sunday and a gofundme page for donations to the family can be seen at our previous story here. Below is our video report on Saturday's event.