A full slate of activities planned for the Memorial Day weekend.

By Mary O’KEEFE

Memorial Day is a busy time in the foothills. Fiesta Days in La Cañada Flintridge, a patriotic display at Forest Lawn in Glendale and, of course, Memorial Day services in Montrose, La Cañada and Two Strike Park.

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. It began after the Civil War as a way for citizens to honor those soldiers who sacrificed their lives in service to their country. Decoration Day began in small towns in the North with tributes to the fallen soldiers that included decorating graves with flowers and flags. The Southern towns recognized their fallen soldiers as well, but on a different day, until after World War I. Then the last Monday in May was chosen as Decoration Day throughout the U.S. That day was chosen because it was not significant to any battle. The day was officially recognized as Memorial Day by Congress in 1971.

Monday at Two Strike Park

A Memorial Day ceremony at Two Strike Park is organized by the American Legion Post 288 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1614.

“It’s always important that the public never forgets that freedom is not free and [we remember] the individuals who paid the ultimate price so that we can have the freedoms we have today. It cuts to the very core of our basic fundamental freedoms as a country. Memorial Day is a very important event and we want the public to know it’s more than just an opportunity for a three-day holiday from work. That’s what it’s all about,” said retired Lt. Col. Dave Worley, U.S. Air Force, in an earlier interview with CVW.

This year’s event will be held at 8 a.m. on Monday, May 28 at the Two Strike Park War Memorial, 5107 Rosemont Ave. in La Crescenta. It will feature a combined color guard of the American Legion and VFW, and will include memorial flag folding, a Missing In Action/Prisoner Of War table ceremony, and a keynote address by Captain Ralph Peter Scaffdi, U.S. Navy, reserve-retired. Scaffidi will speak about Memorial Day in general and, specifically, about Lt. Cdr. James Bauder, the honoree of the event.

La Cañada resident James Bauder was reported MIA (Missing in Action) on Sept. 21, 1966 in Vietnam. His remains were in the plane wreckage that was only recently found in October 2017. Bauder was repatriated to America and is now buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He will be honored at Two Strike Park by his fellow veterans and his community during the Memorial Day ceremony.

Monday, Vietnam Memorial in Montrose

The Memorial Day ceremony will be held at 7:45 a.m. at the Vietnam Memorial at the corner of Ocean View Boulevard and Honolulu Avenue in the Montrose Shopping Park.

Monday, Memorial Park

Memorial service at Memorial Park, 1301 Foothill Blvd., begins at 9 a.m.

Friday, Field of Honor at Forest Lawn Glendale

On Friday, May 25 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Forest Lawn in Glendale will hold its annual Field of Honor and Gratitude. Visitors will be greeted with a display of patriotism with one thousand U.S. flags flying atop eight-foot poles in rows at the entrance. Community members and businesses have purchased flags to be flown in honor of veterans, military personnel, first responders, community leaders and heroes of the individuals’ choice. The proceeds from the event will be returned to the community in the form of veterans’ housing, according to Forest Lawn.

The Glendale Sunrise Rotary Club is hosting this event. Visitors will be able to walk through the Field of Honor free of charge. Sponsoring a flag to honor a hero will not only support the local community but, for those who desire, flag sponsors can take home their flags at the end of the event, according to a statement from Sunrise Rotary.

The flags can be purchased through May 29. For information, visit www.glendalefieldofhonor.com or contact (818) 425-8386 or email eric@cvins.com.

Memorial Day Weekend – Fiesta Days in La Cañada Flintridge

The 45th Annual Memorial Weekend Fiesta Days is hosted by the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Association. Its roots go back to 1973 when Fiesta Days was founded to celebrate the Spanish heritage of the community during the week of Cinco de Mayo. Over the years, Fiesta Days have evolved into an all-encompassing three-day event when it was moved to the end of May. The list of events is long and has something for everyone. Below is the schedule:

Friday:

LCF Community Center Casino Night will be held at the center at 4469 Chevy Chase Drive. General admission tickets can be purchased for $50 prior to the event or at the door for $60. The poker tournament tickets are $75 prior to the event and $100 at the door. The times are from
6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. For information on Casino Night, contact (818) 790-4353.

Saturday:

Start the day with a French toast breakfast and vintage car show from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. held at Memorial Park, 1301 Foothill Blvd. Tickets are $9 adults and $4 for children 11 years old and younger. This event is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of La Cañada-La Crescenta A.M.

Farmers Market will be held, as it is every Saturday, at 1346 Foothill Blvd. from 9 a.m. to 1p.m.

The LCF Tournament of Roses Assn. 6th Annual Open House at 4524 Hampton Road is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Later in the day is Family Flick. This event is held at Memorial Park and this year’s film is “Coco.” The film begins at 8 p.m. A pre-show with music begins at 7 p.m. There will be snacks and a Los Gringos Loco truck with food for purchase. Bring blankets and/or lawn chairs for sitting in the park. This is a free event and is sponsored by Athens Service.

Sunday:

Lanterman House Summer Whites Picnic and Open House held at 4420 Encinas Drive from noon to 4 p.m.

That night is Family Dinner in the Park at Memorial Park with entertainment by the La Cañada High School jazz band and fireworks. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. with a barbecue menu from Los Gringos Locos. Tickets for dinner are $15 for adults and $6 for children. Concierge service and reserved seating is available. For information on concierge dinner reservations, contact June Beemer at (818) 790-4289. The jazz band begins performing at 6:30 p.m. and the fireworks show is at 8:45 p.m. The barbecue is sponsored by NASA Services, Inc. The fireworks are sponsored by the Allen Lund Co.

Monday:

The Crescenta Cañada/YMCA of the Foothills Fiesta Days Family Run/Walk starts at 7 a.m. with a 5K, 10K and one-mile run at 7:30 a.m. Bib and T-shirt pick up will be at Memorial Park. This event is sponsored by Descanso Gardens.

A community breakfast is held from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Memorial Park.

Memorial Day service is at Memorial Park at 9 a.m.

Memorial Day Parade begins at 10:30 a.m. and travels down Foothill Boulevard between Cornishon and Gould avenues. Among the participants is Sam Reiner, 94½, a World War II Marine veteran who will be riding in a side-car attached to an Indian motorcycle piloted by Robert Manciero with Donna Libra, passenger.

Reiner joined the United States Marines in 1943 and served in the 1st Marine Division, Infantry. He fought and was wounded in the battle at Cape Glouster and battle in Peleliu, both in the Pacific. He received two Purple Hearts.

Afternoon in the Park will have games, music and a food court including bounce houses, a children’s petting zoo and face painting. It will be held at Memorial Park from noon to 3:30 p.m.

And then, at the end of the day at 4 p.m., will be the kick-off for the summer program Music in the Park at Memorial Park. Music begins at 4 p.m. with Captain Cardiac. It is suggested to bring lawn chairs and blankets for seating at Memorial Park.

For more information visit lacandaflintridge.com or email exec@lacanadaflintridge.com or contact (818) 790-4289.

  Mary Okeefe