What Memorial Day Looked Like in Vintage Los Angeles

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Decoration Day parade in Pasadena, 1891

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.
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
Seven-year-old Patricia Ross places flowers at the base of the monument in Valhalla Memorial Park, North Hollywood, honoring soldiers killed on battlefield.
Patty Peters, 4, of Encino, carries grownup-size bouquet with flag to Veteran

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