Memorial Day events in LA

PARAMOUNT, Calif. — In one of numerous Memorial Day events scheduled around SoCal on Monday, the Paramount Elks Club's annual "Honoring and Remembering" ceremony will be held at Veterans Memorial Plaza in the Civic Center — where a statue honoring fallen veterans was recently vandalized.

What You Need To Know

Numerous Memorial Day events are scheduled around SoCal on Monday

Memorial Day ceremonies and observances was also planned at the C. Robert Lee Activity Center in Hawaiian Gardens

The La Cañada Flintridge Memorial Day Parade will began at Cornishon Avenue and travel east along Foothill Boulevard to Gould Avenue

Other Memorial Day events in Los Angeles County included parades in Canoga Park and ceremonies at various cemeteries, parks and city halls

The hour-long ceremony included a roll call of deceased veterans, recognition of veterans in attendance, the playing of taps and a wreath laying. Refreshments were available at the Elks Club following the ceremony.

The event took place after some pieces of the "Battlefield Cross and Soldier" statue at the Paramount Armed Forces Memorial were discovered to have been sawed off and stolen — just days before Memorial Day.

The life-size memorial, installed in November, portrays a kneeling soldier paying tribute to a fallen comrade.

"Shame on you for hurting the hearts of people whose hearts have already been devastated through loss," Paramount Mayor Peggy Lemons told NBC4.

Lemons told the station she was across the street from the statue with her granddaughter when she noticed its rifle and hat were missing — vandalism that reportedly caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage.

In a statement posted on social media, the city called the vandalism, "a shameful act of disrespect to those who risked their lives protecting our country and freedoms, as this memorial stands as a symbol of honor and their sacrifice."

"Let's stand together to protect the memory of our heroes," the post said.

Lemons told NBC that if the perpetrator "did this because of money, you could come to us. We have lots of programs and lots of services available to help you. You don't have to go to these lengths and ... make an emotional attack on the families of people who've already lost so much. They didn't need to lose this, too."

The mayor also told Fox11 the city plans to repair the statue, but it could not come in time for Monday's ceremony.

"I have made pleas, always in these situations, someone knows something," Lemons told Fox. "And so I have asked the community, if you know anything, you can reach out on our social media, call the sheriff's department and leave an anonymous tip."

Other Memorial Day events in Los Angeles County include parades in Canoga Park and La Cañada Flintridge and ceremonies at various cemeteries, parks and city halls.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was at the Mexican American All Wars Memorial in Boyle Heights on Monday, which she said "serves as a powerful reminder of the ultimate sacrifices that Mexican-American service members made for our nation. Their stories are integral to the story of Los Angeles. We will never forget."

The 33rd Canoga Park Memorial Day Parade began at 11 a.m. at the intersection of Sherman Way and Owensmouth Avenue and proceed east to Cozycroft Avenue. Its theme was "Saluting the Price of Freedom."

The opening ceremony included a wreath-laying at the Wall of Honor and remarks by retired U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Mike Shatynski, the parade's grand marshal, along with local, state and federal elected officials.

The La Cañada Flintridge Memorial Day Parade began at 11 a.m. at Cornishon Avenue and traveled east along Foothill Boulevard to Gould Avenue. Its theme was "You're a Grand Old Flag."

The grand marshal will be Ivan Creggar, who served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, including Operation Tidal Wave. The 1943 bombing mission on nine oil refineries in Romania was called "one of the bloodiest and most heroic missions of all time," in a 1999 research report prepared for the Air War College, with 310 U.S. aircrew members killed or missing and 190 aircrew captured or interned. There were 53 B-24 bombers destroyed and another 55 damaged.

A memorial service preceded the parade at Memorial Park.

The Honoring Our Fallen Memorial Day Reading of Names of the 7,057 Americans who have died in combat and training exercises since the 9/11 attacks as reported by U.S. Central Command was held early Monday at Rosie the Riveter Park in Long Beach.

Members of Gold Star families, local active-duty military, law enforcement, first responders and veterans assisted in reading the names of the fallen in order of death as inscribed on the park's memorial wall.

Memorial Day ceremonies and observances were also held at the following sites:

C. Robert Lee Activity Center in Hawaiian Gardens;
Lancaster Cemetery;
Lacy Park in San Marino ;
Whittier City Hall;
Acton Community Center;
Highland Park Veterans Memorial Square;
Glendale City Hall;
Park Lawn Cemetery in Commerce;
Cerritos Civic Center;
Forest Lawn memorial parks in Covina Hills, Hollywood Hills and Long Beach;
Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes;
Veterans Park in Lomita;
Los Angeles National Cemetery in Westwood;
Eternal Valley Memorial Park in Newhall ;
Mines Avenue Veterans Monument in Pico Rivera;
Memorial Obelisk outside Inglewood City Hall;
Del Valle Park in Lakewood;
Norwalk Cultural Arts Center;
Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary in Whittier;
Wilmington Cemetery;
Forest Lawn Glendale;
American Legion Hollywood Post 43;
Mission Viejo Civic Center;
La Palma Civic Center;
Memorial Park in Irvine;
Pines Park in Dana Point;
Veterans Park in Fountain Valley
Loma Vista Memorial Park in Fullerton;
Harbor Lawn-Mount Olive Memorial Park in Costa Mesa;
Heroes Hall, OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa;
Forest Lawn in Cypress;
Anaheim Cemetery;
Naval Weapons Station, Seal Beach;
El Toro Memorial Park, Lake Forest;
Community Center, San Clemente;
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Yorba Linda;
Huntington Beach Pier.

In his Memorial Day proclamation, President Donald Trump proclaimed Monday as a day of prayer for permanent peace, designating 11 a.m. in each time zone as a time during which people may unite in prayer, citing a 1950 joint resolution by Congress.

Trump also asked all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3 p.m. in each time zone under a bill signed into law in 2000 by then-President Bill Clinton. It was first held on Memorial Day in 2000 under a proclamation by Clinton in an attempt "to reclaim Memorial Day as the noble event it was intended to be, to honor those who died in service to our nation."

The Moment of Remembrance is a "way we can all help put the memorial back in Memorial Day," its founder Carmella LaSpada said.

Trump's proclamation also requested governors of all U.S. states and territories and the appropriate officials of all units of government to direct that flags be flown at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day on all buildings, grounds and naval vessels throughout the nation and in all areas under its jurisdiction and control.

"Memorial Day is a sacred day of remembrance, reverence and gratitude for the brave patriots who have laid down their lives in service to our great nation," Trump declared in his proclamation. "Throughout our history, brave men and women have been called to defend the cause of liberty on foreign shores in defense of our homeland.

"Their noble sacrifices are marked by flag-draped coffins and the silent sorrows of those left behind. We must never forget those who have given everything for our country."