Memorial Day honor: La Canada Flintridge soldier remembered as hero
LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE, Calif. (KABC) -- The city of La Canada Flintridge is paying tribute this Memorial Day to a local fallen soldier they describe as a hometown hero.
Every Memorial Day, the city honors its own war veterans past and present - those still with us and those who passed, like Army Staff Sgt. Scott Studenmund.
On June 9, 2014, just a few days from 25th birthday, Studenmund died due to friendly fire in Afghanistan.
His mother Jaynie Studenmund described her son's final moments
"My son saved his medic's life before he died, and I would just tell you that if Scott were here today, he would say, 'I was doing my job,'" she said.
A true hometown hero, Studenmund was a 2008 Flintridge Preparatory School graduate, star athlete and scholar. He was a member of the elite Green Berets.
Studenmund's high honors are now immortalized on a plaque presented to his parents on Monday. The plaque is located in the very park he played in as a child.
"Our son's a hero and I believe our son is very present with all of us," Jayne Studenmund said.
Scott Studenmund was one of five soldiers killed on June 9, 2014. He was just 24 years old.
Memorial Day was observed in many cities across the Southland Monday, including Boyle Heights.
Memorial Day: Veterans stand guard over Boyle Heights monument for 24 hours
Veterans took turns standing guard over the Mexican-American All Wars Memorial for 24 hours, as the nation paused to remember our fallen veterans.
Following the end of the 24-hour vigil, another Memorial Day event was scheduled to take place at the monument in the 3300 block of East Cesar Chavez Avenue.
A special Memorial Day ceremony was also held aboard the USS Iowa at the Port of Los Angeles. Actor Bernie Kopell of "Love Boat" and "Get Smart" fame, served aboard the battleship as part of the U.S. Navy from 1956 to 1957.
Memorial Day aboard USS Iowa: Bernie Kopell shares his story
