Parades, Ceremonies Planned for Holiday

The nation’s fallen soldiers will be honored at numerous parades and commemorative services across the Valley this Memorial Day weekend.

The Canoga Park/West Hills Chamber of Commerce will honor the nation’s war dead Monday during its 10th annual Memorial Day Parade.

Grand Marshal Nichelle Nichols, who played Lt. Uhura in the “Star Trek” television and motion picture productions, will lead the procession themed “Proud to Be an American.”

“We are honored that this representative of . . . ‘Star Trek’ and great humanitarian is part of our parade,” said chamber President Shelly Samborsky.

The parade steps off at 11 a.m. from Owensmouth Avenue, goes east on Sherman Way, continues south on DeSoto Avenue and west along Vanowen Street before ending up back at Owensmouth.

More than 100 entries, including floats, marching bands, equestrians, color guards, drill teams, clowns, classic cars, Scouts, community leaders and politicians are expected to make their way along the parade route.

Deep in the heart of Topanga Canyon, the eclectic, free-wheeling Topanga Days Country Fair, a three-day community festival to benefit the Community House, will get underway Monday with the Will Geer Memorial Parade.

The parade starts at 11 a.m. from the Topanga Central Station at Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Old Topanga Canyon Road, travels north along the boulevard and ends at the Community House, 1440 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., site of the fairgrounds.

Longtime Topangans Mimi and Henry Smith will preside as grand marshals of the zany procession, which in previous years has included a float with its riders covered only in mud, tractors covered with flowers, antique fire engines, runners, bikers and skateboarders as well as solemn contingents of war veterans.

Other scheduled commemorations on Monday include musical tributes and memorial services at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Burbank; McCambridge Park War Memorial, at San Fernando Boulevard and Amherst Drive, Burbank, and Pierce Bros. Valley Oaks Memorial Park and Mortuary, 5600 Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village. All services begin at 11 a.m.