Honoring LA's War Dead This Memorial Day Weekend

By Michael Flores and Elly Yu

Published May 27, 2023 1:25 PM

A woman with dark skin tone wearing a black sweater, red shirt and sunglasses hold a framed picture of a man in uniform, with dark skin tone and a U.S. flag in the background.

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For most people, Memorial Day weekend is a way to kick off summer festivities like getting together for barbecues or going on weekend getaways.

For combat veterans, Memorial Day weekends means all that, and more.

It’s been over two decades since the start of the Global War on Terror that has killed more than 7,000 U.S. troops.

John Motter served in the Marines as corps infantryman in Iraq and Afghanistan. He says on Memorial Day, he can't help thinking about the fact that since 9/11 more activity duty and vets have died by suicide than in combat.

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“Memorial Day is like a pretty hollow feeling holiday to me," Motter said. "It's something when it comes up, I just see like, mattress sales and days at the beach or whatever, and no one even thinks of the context of why they're getting the day off.”

Motter lost his friend, Lance Corporal Vasquez, during a foot patrol in Afghanistan. He was his point man and mine sweeper.

Now, Motter asks that people offer a few minutes to remember those killed, and to think of ways to prevent future wars.

An older man with light skin tone sits in a chair and looks at the camera. He has braces on both of his knees. He's also wearing a hat that indicates he was in the military.

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A quartet of four Black men in uniform look at the camera. All of them are on horseback.

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A row of floral wreaths, comprised of mostly white flowers.

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Los Angeles National Cemetery

Remembrance was front and center at the Los Angeles National Cemetery during an event to commemorate and honor the fallen. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass was one of the event's featured speakers.

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"I stand here also as the proud daughter of a veteran ... my father was a part of the greatest generation. He served during World War II in the Coast Guard," she said.

On a stage covered in light green, a woman with brown skin tone wearing glasses stands at a podium. To the right of the image is a table covered in white. To the left are two men sitting with a white chair in between them. One of the men appears older, with light skin and dressed in an all-white uniform.

In her remarks, Bass also mentioned the crisis facing many veterans who are experiencing homelessness.

"Today is a day for us to remember all who have served ... those who died on the front lines of war, and those who died unhoused on our streets, after returning home from serving this country," she said. "It is incumbent upon all of us to make sure that no veteran — no veteran — sleeps on the streets of our country."

In the midst of visitors, luminaries and against a backdrop of a band's horns and trumpets was Donna Brown, who attended the event to remember her younger brother Walter, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2007. He was 21.

"I don't want Walter to be forgotten ... That was a hard call," she told LAist. "And so I'm here every year, to let him know I love him, and for people to know who he is."

About Memorial Day's origins

Memorial Day differs from Veterans Day in November because it specifically honors those who have died in U.S. military service. The tradition of placing flags and flowers on military graves started in the post-Civil War years, at first to commemorate those killed in that war and later expanded to include all war dead.

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A row of U.S. flags sit in front of a memorial wall of names etched in white stone.

It was recognized nationally for the first time in 1868 — known as Decoration Day — with a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, just across the Potomac from Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says this about that first national event:

Approximately 11,250 White and Black Union soldiers were buried along with about 350 Confederate soldiers; more than half were buried as unknowns. The ceremony was held around the Arlington mansion, decorated with flags and draped for mourning. Nearby was the "very profuse decoration of the main tomb where the remains of 2,111 unknown soldiers are buried." Once the home of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, the dwelling and land around it was designated a national cemetery in 1864 by General Meigs.

Memorial Day services

If you’d like to take part in Memorial Day services, you have a few options.

Fleet Week in San Pedro
- 250 S. Harbor Blvd., San Pedro
- Monday, May 29 at 5 p.m. Memorial Service at the USS Iowa
- Events are scheduled all weekend, including tours of the USS Iowa and other ships, aircraft flyovers and musical performances. Full schedule

Peace Week in San Pedro
- 250 S. Harbor Blvd., San Pedro
- Monday, May 29 at the USS Iowa, Veterans for Peace has scheduled a candelight vigil from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.