A Wide Spectrum Honors Stanton Before His Burial

A cemetery manager, a fire captain, and a punk rock band were among those who honored a fallen soldier Thursday as he was about to be buried.

The body of Marine Cpl. Jordan Stanton was interred at Ascension Cemetery in Lake Forest under partially cloudy skies March 17, a wisp of a breeze making the graveside service comfortable for the dozens in attendance.

Stanton, a Rancho Santa Margarita resident, was killed during combat in the Helmand province of Afghanistan on March 4. He was 20.

Members of the punk rock band Street Dogs were at the grave site to honor Stanton. He was a fan of their music, according to band members.

Bassist Johnny Rio said Stanton’s aunt had contacted them and told them of Stanton’s passing. 

The Boston-based band was scheduled to appear at the House of Blues in Anaheim on Thursday night. Lead singer Mike McColgan said that because they were in the area, they thought it important to pay their respects.

“He was a great a fan, and obviously he was a good and capable soldier who served his country with dignity and pride,” said McColgan, who served in an Army artillery unit during the Gulf War and was a Boston firefighter.

The group brought white, purple and red flowers with a note that said, “With respect, Street Dogs.”

Kevin Haynes, manager of Ascension Cemetery, praised Stanton and all members of the military who are willing to die for their country.

“It’s a level of heroism that not a lot of us have the courage for,” Haynes said.

“Every death is sad," he said, "but ones like this hit you harder.”

About two blocks from the cemetery a small group of locals met to demonstrate in honor of Stanton and the military.

“I wanted to do show my respect for the soldiers, to let them know just how much we care,” said Lake Forest resident Kim Smith, who met with others at the corner of Rimhurst Street and Trabuco Road.

Robin Lint, another Lake Forest resident, said that even observing St. Patrick’s Day is only possible because of what the military has done for Americans.

 “We have the freedom to say what we want, to even celebrate random holidays, and it's all because of their services,” Lint said.  

“We try to do whatever we can, anything we can do, to remember the fallen,” said Station 22 Fire Chief Rich McCollom.

At least one person attended the graveside service as a spur-of-the moment decision.

“I was just driving by,” said Shannon West, a Lake Forest resident, “and I just wanted to stop and be supportive.”