Friends, teammates and community members gathered in Wylie for a candlelight vigil honoring Aiden Craig, an 18-year-old Marine recruit who died earlier this month after a medical emergency during Marine Corps recruit training in California.
Craig was a 2026 graduate of Wylie High School and a leader on the school’s football team. Friends who said they had known him since preschool remembered him as a natural-born leader in the classroom, on the football field and throughout his community.
Those who knew Craig said it was no surprise that he wanted to become a Marine.
The vigil was held on the field where Craig had played so many games. The community came together for prayer, songs, memories, and words of encouragement while reflecting on the impact he made in his short life.
Friends said they had been making plans for the next time they would get together and spoke about how proud they were of what Craig had accomplished.
“He was my closest friend. If he was going somewhere, I would want to be there with him,” best friend Diego Garcia said.
Teammate Everett Powell remembered Craig as someone others looked to for leadership and motivation.
“He was such a captain. Everyone looked up to him. He inspired everyone to be better and push themselves past the breaking point, and everyone saw that in him,” Powell said.
Although Craig did not finish training with his platoon, he was honored at his bedside.
The circumstances surrounding Craig’s death are under investigation. The Marine Corps will also conduct a medical review.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.