L.A. Honors War Dead : Words of Peace, Freedom Mark the Day

On a gray morning on which small American flags marked the graves of those who died in battles almost forgotten, Memorial Day orators talked bravely Monday of trying to make sure that future generations survive.

A small gathering at the Los Angeles National Cemetery in Westwood heard U.S. Sen. Alan Cranston (D-Calif.) declare that the United States can achieve lasting peace with the Soviet Union.

It must, he insisted, because either nation could launch deadly missile strikes against the other at any moment.

There are, he pointed out, 41 wars and rebellions of one sort or another being waged around the world, the “most brutal” of which, he said, is the conflict between Iran and Iraq.

In another American Legion program at Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery, Cmdr. Phillip C. Kazanjian of the Navy Reserve noted that “nearly 1 million American servicemen and women have fought and died so that we may live in freedom.” What they did, he said, “should and must not be forgotten.”

There were no big parades. Mostly the commemorations were quiet. And private.

No Beach Crowds

For those who chose to spend the day enjoying themselves, cloudy skies did not give way to sunshine until late morning in many places, so Southern California beaches were not mobbed as on many past Memorial Days. Swimmers did not arrive in significant numbers until afternoon.

Lifeguards were busy because of riptides. There were numerous rescues at Santa Monica Beach, where an estimated 150,000 people finally showed up, and at Hermosa Beach.

Before the expected traffic buildup as holiday travelers began returning home, no one had died in Los Angeles County traffic since early Sunday.

With more California Highway Patrol officers working this Memorial Day weekend than were on duty a year ago, the number of drunk-driver arrests was up, both in Los Angeles County and statewide.

“That’s the only way I can explain it,” said CHP spokesman Monty Kiefer. “There are just more officers out there.”

With 12 hours still to go before the weekend officially ended at 6 p.m. Monday, 643 drunk-driving suspects had been arrested in Los Angeles County, compared to 485 for the entire three-day holiday period in 1984. Statewide, there had been 2,391 arrests, compared to 2,379 for the period a year ago.

A total of 42 people had been killed in traffic throughout California. That was one more than during the same period a year ago.

Fewer Traffic Deaths

Los Angeles County was faring somewhat better than a year ago. The CHP reported six traffic deaths for the weekend in its southern division, which includes 90% of Los Angeles County. There were 10 for the same period last year.

In addition to the deaths occurring in the CHP’s Los Angeles County jurisdiction, a 64-year-old Phelan, Calif., man died when he reportedly drove across a center line on the Pearblossom Highway in the Antelope Valley and crashed head-on into another car. He was identified as Vernon Montrose. The driver of the other car, Michelle Stone, 28, of Santa Ana, sustained major injuries.

Another fatality not included in the CHP weekend statistics resulted from the collision of two young motorcyclists on a bridge in the Hungry Valley state recreation vehicle area near Castaic. Lawrence B. Langley, 17, of Buena Park was killed. The other cyclist, Mark Snyder, 14, suffered moderate injuries.