Michael Jackson fans mark third anniversary of his death at Forest Lawn in Glendale
Hundreds of loyal Michael Jackson fans are expected to mark the third anniversary of the pop icon’s death today at his final resting place in Glendale, including, apparently, his brother.
In a message posted to his Twitter account, Randy Jackson said he planned to pay his brother a visit today, joining dozens of other fans who are expected to file past MJ’s final resting place at the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale.
Other family members also tweeted memorial messages, including Paris Jackson, who said “RIP Michael Jackson .. Dad you will forever be in my heart <3 i love you.”
La Toya Jackson tweeted that it was a “sad morning,” being that “this day was the day that lead to the demise of my little brother…May you RIP. Gone FAR To Soon.”
Describing the crowd as “very polite,” a spokesman for the cemetery said fans were waiting at the entrance when the gates opened at 7 a.m., and so far, the commemoration has unfolded much as it has the past two years.
The Great Mausoleum is closed to the public, but fans are allowed to file past and pay their respects.
Jackson’s burial at Forest Lawn was a global spectacle, attracting thousands of onlookers. But each year since, dozens of fans still make the trip to the cemetery on the anniversary of his death, some with memorial posters, others sporting some of the trademark styles of MJ.
Jackson, 50, died June 25, 2009, after suffering cardiac arrest at a mansion in Holmby Hills. His doctor, cardiologist Conrad Murray, was later found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for administering the powerful surgical anesthetic, Propofol, that caused the heart failure.
-- Jason Wells and Veronica Rocha, Times Community News