RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. — The theater stage room was one of the places where you would have found Dylan Merola during his time at Los Osos High School. He graduated in 2019, but his work is still there. Theater director Randy Shorts said he was a standout technician.

"There is scenery here that Dylan built. There is scenery here he built and took down for one show and painted it for something else and put it in the haunted house," Shorts said.

On show days, Shorts remembers Merola would wear his uniform: a black shirt and red tie. Shorts said a picture of the two of them on a snow day is his favorite. Looking at it brought back memories of what Merola shared with him that day.

"His dad passed away when he was young, and so he talked about like how he saw me as a father, uncle kind of figure in his life," Shorts said.

Shorts said when he heard that Merola was one of 13 service members killed in a suicide bombing during the U.S. evacuation of Afghanistan, his heart sank, as did the hearts of thousands in this tight-knit community.

The city and high school held a ceremony Thursday to honor Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola. Hundreds of people attended it.

Merola's cousin, Toni Salvato, drove out from Victorville and said he remembers that Merola joined the Marines to serve and protect our nation.  

"He served his country showed everybody, yeah, he could do it and still be a hero," Salvato said. She said the last time she spoke with Merola was about a year ago. She feels he is still close by in her heart and wanted to share a special message for him.

"Dylan, you are going to be missed, but we will always love you and know that you will be watching over us," she said.

Both Salvato and Shorts say that during his short time, Merola made an impact, one that will last a lifetime.

"I think of that kid who I watched every day, who was kind and caring and funny," Shorts said.

The one word people who knew Merola would use to describe him is hero.