Casillas remembered

The Arbuckle community paid tribute Saturday to one of their own fallen war heroes.

The name of Army Pfc. Justin Casillas was engraved on a plaque and set in stone on the American flagpole at Veterans Memorial Park in Arbuckle during an emotional ceremony that also served as a tribute to all local military veterans.

"We all share the memory of Justin and we share the heartbreak of the Casillas family," said H.L. Peterson, a veteran of World War II.

Casillas, 19, was killed in combat in Afghanistan on Independence Day as he valiantly tried to save an injured friend, according to the United States Defense Department.

Nearly 300 people assembled in the downtown Arbuckle park on the cool, windy morning to pay their respects to Casillas. The crowd included Casillas' family, dozens of his closest friends and local community leaders and dignitaries.

"I wanted to be here to show my support and appreciation for the sacrifice made by one of own local boys and the sacrifice all of our boys are making overseas," said Colusa Judge Jeffery A. Thompson.

The ceremony was bittersweet for the Casillas family.

"It's hard, we still miss him every single day," said Casillas' father, Joe.

Casillas' mother, Donna, said she was happy so many of her sons' friends could attend and was impressed with the outpouring of support from the whole community.

She was particularly grateful to Spencer Defty, who displayed his 60-by-20-foot American flag at the ceremony as well as at Casillas' funeral in July.

"Justin used to always where his 'Diamond D Engineering' camouflage hat," his mother recalled. "He's wearing it in some of the last pictures we have. That's a very special coincidence for us."

The family wept together and held each other during the ceremony as Debbie Charter recounted Casillas' final heroic moments running through enemy fire with an injured friend on his back before a mortar explosion claimed his life.

George Green, one of Casillas' former high school teachers, presided over the ceremony. Green remembered Casillas as a fun-loving kid that loved to joke around with his teachers and peers.

"He was one of those kids that would give you lip, but in a way that was great and fun," Green recalled following the ceremony.

Casillas attended Pierce High School where he played football for four years, graduating in 2008. Dozens of his former teammates arrived together wearing their jerseys.

Pierce senior Diana Velazquez, also a friend, described him as fiercely loyal and said he could make anybody laugh "in any situation."

She said she remembers Casillas discussed joining the military many times growing up. She called his death "heartbreaking," but said she is slightly comforted knowing he died living his dream.

"If you were really his friend, then there wasn't anything he wouldn't do to help you," Velazquez said.

Colusa Supervisor Kim Vann spoke on behalf of Rep. Wally Herger, R-Chico. Vann choked up as she spoke about Casillas' sacrifice.

"He gave his life to protect our freedom and to Justin and his family, I can only say thank you," Vann said.

Three local veterans also spoke at the ceremony. Peterson was followed by Vietnam veteran George Jimenez and Iraq veteran Maxwell Ramsey.

Joe Casillas said he thinks of his son daily and remembers fondly how supportive he was from boyhood until the moment he was killed and even, his father said, after he died.

"When he got (to Afghanistan), Justin was the only one in the whole unit that could operate a Bobcat tractor," Joe Casillas said. "And Justin taught a whole bunch of guys how to work it."

The training paid off for the unit after he was killed when several fires broke out near the base and soldiers used the tractor to smother them before they could spread.

"It's like even after his death, he was still looking out for his friends," Casillas said. "I think he always will, too."

Contact Rob Parsons at 934-6800 or rparsons@tcnpress.com.