LAKE FOREST – Hundreds of firefighters and law enforcement officers on Tuesday waved flags from freeway bridges from Los Alamitos to Laguna Hills saluting a procession carrying the remains of Cpl. Christopher G. Singer, a Marine killed in Afghanistan on Jan.21.

The procession of more than 200 vehicles — including members of the Patriot Guard and law enforcement personnel — traveled along Katella Avenue and then went south on the 605 Freeway to the 405 Freeway southbound to Alicia Parkway. The procession followed a Hero Mission — a somber ceremony that marks the return of an American hero killed in action back to his home of record and back to his family at the Joint Forces Training Base at Los Alamitos. The Hero Mission is an opportunity to publicly honor our fallen heroes, those who have lost their lives in combat, said Ret. Col. Tom Lasser.

During ceremony a Marine Corps Honor Guard marched out to the charter plane and saluted as the coffin, holding the remains of Singer, was unloaded onto the tarmac. Singer’s family, including his wife, Brooke, 21, his father Greg Singer, and his mother, Marlene Shaw, and others were escorted to the plane as the coffin was lowered. A short and solemn ceremony followed.

Military personnel from the National Guard, Army Reserve and the Marine Corps stood in military formation saluting Singer and his family. Law enforcement personnel representing multiple jurisdictions also took part in the ceremony. More than 500 people stood on the tarmac and paid their respects. The ceremony was coordinated by the military with the assistance of Laura Herzog, founder of “Honoring Our Fallen,” a nonprofit group supporting families of military killed in action. The group will continue to support the family and Singer’s 2-year-old daughter, Briyana, with birthday and Christmas gifts until she is 18 years old, Herzog said.

Singer, 23, was killed while conducting operations in the Helmand Province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Twentynine Palms-based 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, which is an element of Camp Pendleton’s 1st Marine Division. Singer was born in San Diego and grew up in Lake Forest and Temecula.

“I was told what it may look like,” Greg Singer, father of Christopher Singer said of the ceremony. “There are no words to express how my son was taken care of.”

Greg Singer, of Lake Forest, said his son dreamed of becoming a Marine even as a young boy. He joined the Marines in 2007. He deployed in September in 2011. This was his first deployment.

As an engineer, Singer was trained in construction and demolition. Engineers are a vital component of keeping Marines agile, Cpt. Nicholas Mannweiler, a public affairs officer at Twentynine Palms, said. They are specialists in multiple specialties including detecting improvised explosive devices, clearing routes of IED’s, building and maintaining roads and bridges and classifying routes for appropriate use of military vehicles and equipment.

“One of the hardest things in my life will be to lay my husband and the father of my child to rest but I know he died doing something he loved so very much,” said Brooke Singer, 21. “Ever since he was a little boy, he wanted to be a Marine.”

Brooke Singer said her husband one of the most inspirational men she ever met. The couple met when she was 17, and Christopher Singer was 19.

“I will forever miss my husband,” Brooke Singer said. “Not a minute, hour or day will go by where I won’t think of his sweet face and his huge heart.”

“You will always be in my heart and mind,” Marlene Shaw, Christopher Singer’s mother said. “I will never forget what you have done to protect our family and our country.”

Though stricken with grief, Singer’s family was overwhelmed by the community outpouring and expressed awe as the procession drove along Katella Avenue leaving the military base. The street was lined with community members, shop owners and professionals from nearby offices. Children from Mayflower Preschool held flags and signs.

The procession, led by Orange County Sheriff’s deputies and California Highway Patrol officers, traveled for 30 minutes ending at O’Connor Mortuary in Laguna Hills. About 125 Patriot Guard members accompanied nearly 100 cars along the freeways through Orange County. The coach, carrying Cpl. Singer, was preceded by three Patriot Guards riding in a missing-man procession. Law enforcement from many Orange County cities joined in the caravan.

There, firefighters from the Orange County Fire Authority, greeted the family and caravan of cars with a 15-foot-high American flag draped high above a hook and ladder truck.

“The heartfelt response from people who didn’t even know my son was overwhelming,” Greg Singer said. “It was just awesome.”

A memorial service is planned for 10 a.m. Friday at Saddleback Church, 1 Saddleback Parkway. The memorial is open to the public. Singer will be buried at the Riverside National Cemetery.

Contact the writer: 949-454-7307 or eritchie@ocregister.com