Memorial Day Marks Onslaught of Summer

As families across the San Fernando Valley were packing up their vans and motor homes for Memorial Day weekend getaways, former U.S. Marine Alfred Lopez was picking up a 20-foot flagpole that will fly an American flag at his Pacoima home.

He will travel this weekend to Golden State Cemetery in San Bruno, Calif., to visit the grave of his brother, Ernest Lopez, a Marine killed on Iwo Jima in World War II.

Alfred Lopez, 74, has two sons who served as Marines in Vietnam and two nephews who also were in the corps.

“I’m very proud of my family’s service and of the Marines,” he said.

And judging by sales at her Flags & Banners Unlimited store in Woodland Hills, owner Barbara Kaufman says others are getting into the spirit as well.

“I know patriotism is back,” said Kaufman. “Business is way up.”

This Memorial Day weekend--the unofficial but traditional beginning of summer in America--1 million to 1.5 million people are expected to hit the local beaches, with upward of 100,000 visitors trekking to Angeles National Forest, about 10,000 people flocking to Castaic Lake and even 50,000 gathering to witness the annual Canoga Park Memorial Day parade.

“When you have 55,000 spectators, and you think [of the fact] there are only 70,000 residents in the Canoga Park/West Hills area, that tells you that they love it,” said Aline Houseman, executive director of the Canoga Park/West Hills Chamber of Commerce. The chamber organizes the parade, which will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at Owensmouth Avenue and Sherman Way and proceed east on Sherman Way, south on DeSoto Avenue and west on Vanowen Street.

And even though the two hugely publicized rides at local amusement parks--”Jurassic Park: The Ride” at Universal Studios and “Superman: The Escape” at Magic Mountain--won’t be ready for riders, that isn’t expected to slow the crowds.

“This is a huge weekend for us,” said spokesman Jim Yeager.

Weather forecasters predicted a chance of showers or thunderstorms tonight and early Saturday, which would keep temperatures in the mid 70s to low 80s this weekend, perfect for outdoor activities.

Other popular spots this weekend will be the Los Angeles Zoo, the Autry Museum of Western Heritage (which is opening a new exhibit on Gen. George Armstrong Custer), Balboa Lake and miniature golf parks.

In keeping with the true meaning of the holiday, Valhalla Memorial Park in North Hollywood will conduct a Memorial Day program at 10 a.m. Monday, followed by a rededication of the restored Portal of the Folded Wings Shrine to Aviation and Museum at 2 p.m.

The Condor Squadron--former military pilots in World War II era planes--is scheduled to fly over two 11 a.m. ceremonies Monday: at Valley Oaks Memorial Park in Westlake Village and at the McCambridge Park War Memorial at San Fernando Boulevard and Amherst Drive in Burbank.

The Latin American Club of the Antelope Valley will honor local veterans at a breakfast at 8 a.m. Sunday at its community building at 324 W. Norberry St. in Lancaster.

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Times correspondents Susan Abram, Donna Mungen and Michael Torra and Times photographer Richard Derk contributed to this story.

* HOLIDAY WARNING: Eight beaches on polluted list. B10