Miguel Villalon

A memorial ceremony will be held on Jan. 29 in Aurora to honor United States Army Specialist Miguel Villalon, who was killed Jan. 11 by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan.

The ceremony, which is being hosted by the city of Aurora in collaboration with East Aurora School District 131, will be held at East Aurora High School, 500 Tomcat Lane.

The ceremony is open to the public.

“It is important to his mother and to us for the NJROTC cadets to be able to participate in full capacity in the ceremony,” said Mayor Richard C. Irvin. “This was the unit he was so proud of and where he learned the importance of service to the community and our country.”

In a statement released earlier, East Aurora School District said, “We are grateful to Miguel for his courage and service to our nation.”

Funeral services for the soldier were scheduled to be held at his family’s home town of Brownsville, Texas. After the services, Miguel’s mother, Olivia Guzman Villalon, was set to return home to participate in the Aurora memorial ceremony next week.

Through the mayor’s office, she sent her gratitude to the community for the outpouring of love and support. She asked for continued prayers for her and her family during this difficult time. Villalon also thanked the United States Army for promoting her son from Private First Class to Specialist.

In response to inquiries from the community, Irvin said donations, cards and letters for the Villalon family can be brought to the ceremony.

“We are planning a memorial ceremony befitting a hero, because that is exactly what Miguel is,” Irvin said.

Villalon attended Waldo Middle School and East Aurora High School. He joined the United States Army in 2018 and, after completing basic combat training and advanced individual training in 2019, at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, he was assigned to Fort Bragg where he served as a combat engineer.

His awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with “C” Device, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal and the Combat Action Badge.

He was one of two U.S. service members killed on Saturday, Jan. 11, when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device while on duty in Afghanistan.

Questions regarding the ceremony should be directed to the mayor’s office at 630-256-3010 or MayorsOffice@aurora-il.org.