Friends and family of Marine Pvt. Aiden Craig, including his mother Lisa Craig (seated, second from left) came together at Wylie High School for a candlelight vigil August 21, 2026. Craig died during a physical training evaluation at Camp Pendleton.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
WYLIE — The field lights at Wylie Stadium were dark Friday night. Outside, candles flickered in the hands of about 150 people as they bowed their heads, embraced and remembered Aiden Craig, the former Pirates defensive end who died this month after a medical emergency during Marine Corps recruit training in California.
Friends, relatives, former teachers and teammates shared stories about the 18-year-old Murphy resident’s kindness, humor and determination. Nearby, mourners wrote messages on slips of paper and across a maroon-and-white football helmet.
Craig, a 2026 Wylie High School graduate, suffered a medical emergency Aug. 1 during a physical fitness evaluation at Camp Pendleton. He died four days later at Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside, California, Marine Corps officials previously said.
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The circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation, and the Marine Corps is conducting a medical review.
Related: Murphy teen identified as recruit who died after Marine fitness evaluation
Wylie football coach Jimmy Carter opened the vigil with a prayer and invited those attending to share their memories. Seeing former players return demonstrated the lasting bonds formed within the football program, he said.
“It’s a brotherhood,” Carter said. “I think Aiden would be very proud of everybody who turned out tonight to support him.”
‘Privilege and honor’
Craig’s parents, Gregory Brent and Lisa Violet Craig, joined the community in remembering their son. His father described him as sweet and determined.
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“He was the easiest kid in the world to raise,” his father said. “If he had a passion to do something, he would do it.”
Childhood teacher Shannon Callender wrote a message to the family of Marine trainee Pvt. Aiden Craig, 18, who was honored during a candlelight vigil August 21, 2026 at Wylie High School where he graduated.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
Staff Sgt. David Amador, who helped train Craig, said he had the “privilege and honor” of escorting Craig’s remains home from California.
Amador told Craig’s family that Craig embodied the Marine Corps’ core values of honor, courage and commitment. Although Craig did not complete recruit training, Amador said his drill instructors believed he had earned the title he sought.
“All the drill instructors agreed that he had earned his title,” Amador said. “I hope it’s something that gives you some peace, knowing that he was a Marine.”
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Craig’s decision to enlist surprised none of his friends. He had wanted to serve for years and pursued that ambition with the same determination he displayed on the football field.
Diego Garcia, who had known Craig since preschool and considered him his best friend, said Craig once asked him to join the military. Garcia chose a different path but never doubted Craig would accomplish his goal.
‘It was an honor’
“I was proud of him,” Garcia said. “I knew what he wanted to do, and he was going to get that done.”
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Garcia described Craig as loyal, with an infectious smile and laugh that made any occasion more enjoyable. The two were so close, he said, that neither wanted to attend a gathering without the other.
“No matter where we went or what we were doing, I’d always want to be with him, and he’d always want to be with me,” Garcia said.
Friends and family of Marine Pvt. Aiden Craig came together at Wylie High School for a candlelight vigil August 21, 2026. Craig died during a physical training evaluation at Camp Pendleton.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
Everett Powell met Craig in seventh grade and played football alongside him through high school. On the field, Powell said, the two felt like one.
“Just being able to have fun out there, play with him and laugh with him, it was an honor,” Powell said.
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Powell said those close to Craig initially believed he would recover.
“Everyone thought he was so tough and he was going to pull through,” Powell said. “Then, to hear the words that he didn’t make it, it just didn’t feel real.”
Craig also had a way of lifting those around him, Powell said.
“You could have the worst day and go hang out with him, and he’d have you smiling 30 seconds later,” he said.
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Rachel van der Woude remembered Craig as a kind boy who became a positive influence on her children. One of her favorite memories came after her family returned from North Dakota.
To surprise Craig, the family placed her son Grayson inside a large gift bag on Craig’s doorstep. Craig opened the package, and Grayson jumped out.
“It was one of the best memories we had,” Van der Woude said before thanking Craig’s parents for sharing their son with her family.
‘Helped shape my character’
Grayson van der Woude said he and Craig had been close since playing on the same Little League team when they were 4 or 5.
“He was just one of the best people I ever knew, and he helped shape my character,” Van der Woude said. “I know he helped a lot of other people.”
Bob Welch offered support drawn from his own family’s loss. His son, Army 1st Lt. Robert F. Welch III, was killed in Afghanistan 15 years ago.
Wylie rallied around the Welch family after Robert’s death, Welch said, just as the community had gathered around Craig’s family.
“I’ve been in your boots, and they’re not fun,” Welch said. “You survive one day at a time.”
Welch said he liked to imagine Craig arriving at the gates of heaven and being greeted by his son, who also played football for Wylie.
“I can just see Robbie and Aiden walking through there, shaking hands, maybe high-fives,” Welch said.
Wylie High football players Diego Zamora (left) and Armando Rodriguez write messages to the family of Marine trainee Pvt. Aiden Craig, 18, who was honored during a candlelight vigil August 21, 2026 at Wylie High School.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
Wylie High School Principal Brian Alexander recalled giving Craig countless handshakes and fist bumps during his four years at the school. Their final handshake came at graduation.
Alexander drew upon the words traditionally used to send graduates into the next stage of their lives.
“He’s not gone. He’s just dismissed,” Alexander said. “He has better things ahead.”
After a moment of silence, the crowd ended the vigil with a collective shout of “AHMO,” the football battle cry used by generations of Wylie Pirates.