Vigil for missing U.S. marine to be held in Fountain

American Legion Post 38 in Fountain will hold a vigil in honor of US Marine Sergeant Jeffrey Sempler, whose mother is a member of the Legion.

Sempler is one of 12 Marines reported missing on Jan. 14 after two helicopters collided off the coast of Hawaii. He was the crew chief on one of the helicopters.

The Coast Guard has since suspended the search for the missing Marines, and will move into recovery and salvage operations.

“A decision to suspend searching without finding survivors is extremely difficult given the depth of its impact. … Our thoughts and prayers are with Marine Corps helicopter squadron and particularly with families and loved ones of those missing,” said Coast Guard Capt. Jim Jenkins in a written statement.

The Marine Corps has named the 12 missing men. Base Hawaii named them as:

Maj. Shawn M. Campbell, 41, College Station, Texas

Cpl. Matthew R. Drown, 23, Spring, Texas

Lance Cpl. Ty L. Hart, 21, Aumsville, Oregon

Cpl. Thomas J. Jardas, 22, Fort Myers, Florida

Capt. Brian T. Kennedy, 31, Philadelphia

Cpl. Christopher J. Orlando, 23, Hingham, Massachusetts

Capt. Kevin T. Roche, 30, St. Louis

Sgt. Dillon J. Semolina, 24, Chaska, Minnesota

Sgt. Adam C. Schoeller, 25, Gardners, Pennsylvania

Sgt. Jeffrey A. Sempler, 22, Woodruff, South Carolina

The Colorado vigil for Sempler will begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday at 6685 Southmoor Drive in Fountain.