Residents, veterans and city dignitaries gathered at the Veteran’s Memorial in Redondo Beach’s Veteran’s Park on Monday, May 27, afternoon to commemorate those who served their country in the military.
This year, the ceremony — put on annually by the city, the Veterans Memorial Task Force and Redondo Beach Elks Lodge #1378 — included a flag presentation to family members of late Redondo Beach Mayor Bill Brand, who died in February.
Every Memorial Day and Labor Day, the flag that flies at Veteran’s Park is replaced with a new one, said Tom Lasser, of the Veteran’s Memorial Task Force. The old flag is usually presented to a local veteran, he said.
But this year, because of the late mayor’s support for the military, veterans and the Veteran’s Park Memorial itself, the task force decided to present the flag to Brand’s family. Sister Sallie Citron accepted the flag on behalf of the family.
“How special is it that we’re presenting the flag right by his final resting place?” Lasser said in a phone interview before Monday’s ceremony. Brand’s ashes were lowered into the ocean in a paddleout ceremony right below Veteran’s Park earlier this month.
The Memorial Day observance also included a patriotic display of color guard, music and speeches, after which attendees gathered in the park for an Elks-sponsored barbeque picnic. The meal was free for all veterans and active members of the military.
“There’s nothing like a ceremony at Veteran’s Park,” Lasser said. “With the beach right there, the ocean in the background and the green grass. We’ve got it down to a science.”
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