Remember to remember
Choice aplenty highlights this year’s local Memorial Day celebrations
By Carl Kozlowski 05/21/2009
Memorial Day is the symbolic start of summer, the first three-day weekend of fun in the sun — first for those not lucky enough to live in Southern California, anyway.
It’s the day that the grill first comes out from the garage and family and friends gather to toss a load of meat on some heat and serve up a tasty meal, preferably with cold brews in hand.
Yet we often forget the solemn nature of why Memorial Day was created: a day set aside for remembering the brave men and women who fought and died for our rights to be free. But over the years, the event has become a time for taking off work and barbecuing. And in keeping with that spirit, the following events offer more than a few ways to have fun while paying your respects.
The most history-oriented event in the area is hosted by the creative minds at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, where the 94th annual Memorial Day Program begins with a Memorial March from the Little Church of the Flowers to the burial site of a Civil War soldier. At that site, Abe Lincoln impersonator William Peck reads Honest Abe’s famed Gettysburg Address and Civil War re-enactors from the 100th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry perform a graveside ceremony. The Band of the California Battalion will perform historical military tunes before a reading of an official presidential proclamation from President Barack Obama marking this year’s Memorial Day.
The free ceremonies begin at 1 p.m. Monday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, 1712 S. Glendale Ave., Glendale. Call (800) 204-3131 or visit forestlawn.com.
The Pasadena Senior Center will host a Memorial Day BBQ and Dance, preceded by a special Memorial Tribute presented by the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 446 in adjacent Memorial Park at 11:30 a.m. Monday. After the solemnities, attendees can stuff themselves to their hearts’ content on a noontime barbecue featuring favorites like hot dogs and hamburgers, as well as salads, baked beans and ice cream.
Then everyone can dance the calories off to the great live music of The Great American Swing Band. Memorial Park is at 85 E. Holly St., Pasadena. Tickets are $9 for general public and $6 for Senior Center members. Call (626) 795-4331.
The most solemn way to mark this day of remembrance is on the beach adjacent to Santa Monica Pier, where the Arlington West memorial employs thousands of wooden crosses to represent military service members killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
The weekly Sunday memorial maintained by Veterans for Peace will be extended until 5 p.m. Monday. Volunteers are needed for set-up at 8 a.m. Sunday and take-down on Monday evening. Call (323) 934-3451.
Meanwhile, the weekend leading up to Memorial Day is filled with fun yet respectful events as well. LA County Supervisor Michael Antonovich teams with popular KNBC-4 weatherman Fritz Coleman to host the 12th annual “Remembering Our Veterans and Their Families” event Saturday at Arcadia County Park.
While the day’s main purpose is to spotlight the array of free services available to vets and their families — ranging from health care to legal help — its climax is a special ceremony at 11:30 a.m. that includes a presentation of colors, a 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, skydivers and flyovers by vintage World War II aircraft.
There will also be an array of live bands, displays of military vehicles and equipment, and a Wall of Remembrance for veterans on which families are invited to place photos of loved ones. Add in a children’s area, haircuts and manicures, free tetanus vaccinations and a ton of food booths and you’ve got a full slate to keep the whole family busy from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Arcadia County Park is at 405 S. Santa Anita Ave., Arcadia. Call (626) 967-1441. Another family friendly event is the Latin American Festival 2009, from noon to 6 p.m.
Saturday at Charles White Park in Altadena. Featuring the Ramon Banuelos Charro Team, plus music by Ptolemy, Mexican baile folklorico dancing and taste sensations from Café con Tequila and other vendors, the afternoon is a spicy way to spend quality time together at the park, located at 77 Mountain View St., Altadena. Call (626) 398-5451 or visit parks.lacounty.gov.
Villa Sorriso restaurant is hosting a special Sunday lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in its Tuscan-style courtyard. There will be a presentation of military colors, themed musical selections and an open mic offered to all in attendance who want to offer thanks to veterans, firefighters and law enforcement officials for their service. A surprise VIP guest, who has won four Purple Hearts due to battle injuries, will also be in attendance.
A special two-course lunch menu for veterans and their guests will feature a variety of tasty treats for just $10 per person, including pizzas, pastas and cheeseburgers. Everything happens from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the restaurant, 168 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Call (626) 793-2233.
Finally, be forewarned that on Monday travel times throughout the LA area may be impeded by street closures for the thousands of people running the Los Angeles Marathon. The race gets underway at 8:30 a.m. at the intersection of Figueroa Street and Pico Boulevard.
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