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What Memorial Day Looked Like in Vintage Los Angeles

Tina Lernø, Librarian, Digital Content Team,
Decoration Day parade in Pasadena, 1891
Decoration Day parade in Pasadena, 1891. Security Pacific National Bank Collection

Memorial Day is officially observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who lost their lives while serving in the U.S. military. It was originally known as Decoration Day because families would decorate the graves of those who had fallen in the Civil War. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades as you can see from this selection of images from our Photo Collection. 

Boy Scouts place flags on each of the 77,000 graves at the Veterans National Cemetery in Westwood in observance of Memorial Day.

Boy Scouts place flags on each of the 77,000 graves at the Veterans National Cemetery in Westwood in observance of Memorial Day, [1987]. Herald-Examiner Collection
Local scouts with their flags march on Brand Boulevard in the Memorial Day Parade, in Glendale, May 28, 1979.
Local scouts with their flags march on Brand Boulevard in the Memorial Day Parade, in Glendale, [1979]. Herald-Examiner Collection
In memory - Alone and in groups, thousands of persons throughout the Southland today visited cemeteries, parks and ships at anchor to pay tribute to the men and women who gave their lives for their country
A lonely woman pauses in the solitude of the morning to pay homage on this, the 96th observance of Memorial Day, [1964]. Valley Times Collection
Seven-year-old Patricia Ross places flowers at the base of the monument in Valhalla Memorial Park, North Hollywood, honoring soldiers killed on battlefield.
Seven-year-old Patricia Ross places flowers at the base of the monument in Valhalla Memorial Park, North Hollywood, honoring soldiers killed on the battlefield, [1962]. Valley Times Collection
Patty Peters, 4, of Encino, carries grownup-size bouquet with flag to Veteran's Monument at Valhalla Memorial Park, North Hollywood, in observance of Memorial Day
Patty Peters, 4, of Encino, carries a grownup-size bouquet with flag to Veteran's Monument at Valhalla Memorial Park, North Hollywood, in observance of Memorial Day [1959]. Valley Times Collection

Books of War and Sacrifice


Book cover for Fobbit
Fobbit
Abrams, David, 1963-

Book cover for Thank You For Your Service
Thank You For Your Service
Finkel, David, 1955-

Book cover for Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk
Fountain, Ben.

Book cover for The Face of War
The Face of War
Gellhorn, Martha, 1908-1998.

Book cover for The Ghosts of Hero Street: How One Small Mexican-American Community Gave so Much in World War II and Korea
The Ghosts of Hero Street: How One Small Mexican-American Community Gave so Much in World War II and Korea
Harrison, Carlos (Carlos E.).

Book cover for Paco's Story
Paco's Story
Heinemann, Larry.

Book cover for Dispatches
Dispatches
Herr, Michael, 1940-2016.

Book cover for Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
Hillenbrand, Laura.

Book cover for Red Tail Captured, Red Tail Free: Memoirs of a Tuskegee Airman and POW
Red Tail Captured, Red Tail Free: Memoirs of a Tuskegee Airman and POW
Jefferson, Alexander, 1921-

Book cover for Tree of Smoke
Tree of Smoke
Johnson, Denis, 1949-2017.

Book cover for Hold It 'Til It Hurts
Hold It 'Til It Hurts
Johnson, T. Geronimo (Tyrone Geronimo),

Book cover for The Thin Red Line
The Thin Red Line
Jones, James

Jones is best known for From Here to Eternity, and several other books about war, but this book is far more raw in its representation of men at the battlefront.


Book cover for The Things They Carried: A Work of Fiction
The Things They Carried: A Work of Fiction
O'Brien, Tim, 1946-

Book cover for Jarhead: A Marine's Chronicle of the Gulf War and Other Battles
Jarhead: A Marine's Chronicle of the Gulf War and Other Battles
Swofford, Anthony.

Book cover for Plenty of Time When We Get Home
Plenty of Time When We Get Home
Williams, Kayla.

Book cover for Generation Kill: Devil Dogs, Iceman, Captain America, and the New Face of American War
Generation Kill: Devil Dogs, Iceman, Captain America, and the New Face of American War
Wright, Evan.

Book cover for Shoot Like a Girl: One Woman's Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front
Shoot Like a Girl: One Woman's Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front
Hegar, Mary Jennings.

Book cover for The Operator: Firing the Shots that Killed Osama bin Laden and My Years as a SEAL Team Warrior
The Operator: Firing the Shots that Killed Osama bin Laden and My Years as a SEAL Team Warrior
O'Neill, Robert, 1976-

Book cover for Code Talker
Code Talker
Nez, Chester

Book cover for Ashley's War: The Untold Story of a Team of Women Soldiers on the Special Ops Battlefield
Ashley's War: The Untold Story of a Team of Women Soldiers on the Special Ops Battlefield
Tzemach Lemmon, Gayle,

 

 


 

 

 

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