On November 10, the 235th birthday of the United States Marine Corps, the North American Self-Defense Association inducted Marine LCpl Eric Ward into its Honor Roll.

Ward grew up in the Snoqualmie Valley, participating in activities including football, baseball and tae kwon do. After his graduation from Mount Si High School in 2009, he joined the Marine Corps. Last February, Ward was killed in action in Afghanistan’s Helmand province while serving as a Marine Corps machine gunner.

He is the first Mount Si graduate to die in the Middle Eastern/Asian conflict.

Ward’s name will be included in the planned all-Valley veteran’s memorial in Snoqualmie.