PARAMOUNT — In one of numerous Memorial Day events held around the Southland May 26, the Paramount Elks Club’s annual “Honoring and Remembering” ceremony was held at Veterans Memorial Plaza in the Civic Center where a statue honoring fallen veterans was recently vandalized.
The hour-long ceremony included a roll call of deceased veterans, recognition of veterans in attendance, the playing of “Taps” and a wreath-laying ceremony.
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 the Memorial Day 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 included parades 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, 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.”
Memorial Day ceremonies and observances were also held at Whittier City Hall, the Mines Avenue Veterans Monument in Pico Rivera, the Memorial Obelisk outside Inglewood City Hall, the Norwalk Cultural Arts Center, Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary in Whittier and the American Legion Hollywood Post 43.
In his Memorial Day proclamation, President Donald Trump proclaimed Memorial Day 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.”
What became Memorial Day was first observed on May 30, 1868, as Decoration Day, a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the Civil War dead with flowers.
It was established 25 days earlier by Maj. Gen. John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of veterans who fought for the Union in the Civil War. It is believed that date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the nation.
By the end of the 19th century, Decoration Day ceremonies were being held on May 30 throughout the nation. After World War I, the holiday was changed to honor Americans who died fighting in all wars.
The term Memorial Day was first used in 1882, became more common after World War II and declared the official name by federal law in 1967.
Memorial Day had been observed on May 30, until being moved to the last Monday in May in 1971 under terms of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which became law in 1968.
Steven Herbert is a reporter for City News Service.
