Community Corner

Fallen Army Sgt. to Arrive in Murrieta Friday

Several events are planned to pay tribute to fallen U.S. Army Sgt. Clinton Ruiz of Murrieta, beginning with a motorcade Friday.

UPDATE:

The arrival time of the motorcade for U.S. Army Sgt. Clinton Ruiz is going to be closer to 12:15 p.m. or 12:20 p.m., Patch has learned. The public is invited to gather on Kalmia between Jefferson and Adams.

ORIGINAL POST:

Find out what's happening in Murrietawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Murrieta is coming together to honor a fallen hometown soldier.

U.S. Army Sgt. Clinton Keith Ruiz, 22, a 2008 graduate of Murrieta Valley High School, was killed Oct. 25 when his unit was attacked in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense announced. 

Find out what's happening in Murrietawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Ruiz is scheduled to be flown home Friday from Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Anyone who is able was invited to gather with Patriot Guard Riders at 9:15 a.m. at Denny's, 487 Harbor Drive in Oceanside near the main entrance to Camp Pendleton.

Upon the base arrival of the flight carrying Ruiz', a vehicle carrying his remains will be accompanied by the Patriot Guard Riders, who along with a California Highway Patrol escort, will exit the Fallbrook gate and travel north on Intersate 15 to Murrieta, Patch confirmed.

The Murrieta Fire Department is coordinating with neighboring fire departments so that engine crews will be stationed at overpasses along the route, according to Murrieta Fire Chief Matt Shobert.

The procession is tentatively scheduled to exit I-15 at Kalmia Street between 12:45 p.m. and 1 p.m. Friday, according to Patriot Guard rider Martin Borg.

The motorcade will turn left onto Kalmia, where it will pass by Murrieta City Hall at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Kalmia, Borg told Patch.

It will then travel right (north) on Adams Avenue to Magnolia Street, where it will make a right toward Murrieta Valley High School, then left onto Washington in order to proceed to Murrieta Valley Funeral Home.

The Patriot Guard is working with the Murrieta Police Department to provide traffic control during the event, Borg said.

Ideal spots to welcome the motorcade are near City Hall at the southeast corner of Kalmia and Jefferson, and at the corner of Nighthawk Way and Washington.

Anyone who wishes to pay their respects may come out and park by City Hall, according to Karen Parris, spokesperson for the Murrieta Valley Unified School District.

Murrieta Valley students and faculty are planning to wait on the corner of Nighthawk Way and Washington, Parris said.

Then during Friday night's Murrieta Valley home game against Temecula Valley, the school is hosting a Military Appreciation Night. Ruiz will be honored with a moment of silence during halftime, according to Parris.

The public is also invited to a memorial service for Ruiz that begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3 at 24470 Washington Ave.

Ruiz is survived by his wife Kira Ortega, his 14-month-old son Caleb, his father Tony Ruiz and his mother Carla Trease, who is a teacher at Cole Canyon Elementary, according to Parris.

Ruiz enlisted in the Army in May, 2009, as a psychological operations specialist. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in June and was deployed to Afghanistan in September.

Ruiz was assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C., where he completed basic training in August 2009 and Basic Airborne School in October 2009. He later attended the Psychological Operations Advanced Individual Training and Korean Language School.

During his tour of service, he was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghan Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and the Parachutist Badge.

A . Donations made payable to Tony Ruiz FBO (For Benefit Of) Caleb Ruiz may be sent to Leslie Wininger at Cole Canyon Elementary, 23750 Via Alisol, Murrieta, CA 92562.

Additionally, Cole Canyon teacher Julie Pulatie is collecting donations for the first annual Clinton Ruiz Scholarship.

Also, there will be two flags displayed in Ruiz’ honor at the Murrieta Field of Honor, which runs Nov. 4-11 at Town Square Park.

Editor's Note: The motorcade's arrival time Friday in Murrieta is tentative. Stay with Patch in the event schedule changes arise.


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