Banning High to honor former student killed in Iraq
From reporter Larry Altman:
A former Banning High School football player who died on a battlefield in Iraq will be honored Friday night with a pre-game ceremony at the Pilots’ Homecoming game in Gardena.
U.S. Army Pfc. David Toomalatai’s No. 80 jersey will be retired and members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Wilmington will pay tribute with a gun salute.
Toomalatai's family, fiancee and toddler son are expected to attend the 6:40 p.m. ceremony before the Pilots' 7 p.m. game against Washington High School at the Gardena High School stadium at 1301 W. 182nd Street.
Toomalatai, a medic, was killed in January while riding in an ambulance that struck a land mine.