Former POW Ramirez to Lead Canoga Park Parade

Former Serb prisoner of war Staff Sgt. Andrew Ramirez will lead off the 11th annual Canoga Park Memorial Day Parade on Monday with the U.S. Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard.

“He’s helping us pay tribute to our fallen service people,” said Aline Hausman, executive director of the Canoga Park/West Hills Chamber of Commerce, which is organizing the event.

Keeping with the theme, “The Century Remembered,” several celebrity grand marshals will participate. Actress Virginia Mayo will represent the ‘40s and ‘50s, actress Patty McCormick will commemorate the ‘60s and ‘70s and actress Kristina Wayborn will represent the ‘80s and ‘90s, joined by Warner Bros. cartoon character Tweety Bird.

The parade begins at 11 a.m. at Sherman Way and Owensmouth Avenue, traveling east on Sherman Way, south on De Soto Avenue and west along Vanowen Street, ending at Owensmouth.

A number of other Memorial Day events are planned in the area, including:

* The final day of the Topanga Days Country Fair will be marked by the Will Geer Memorial Parade, an eclectic, freewheeling event that sets out from the Topanga Central Station at Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Old Topanga Road at 11 a.m. Monday.

The parade travels north along the boulevard and ends at the Community House, 1440 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd. Grand marshal will be Inara George, daughter of the late musician Lowell George.

* Pierce Bros. Valhalla Memorial Park will host the 72nd annual Memorial Day Commemoration Service at 10 a.m. Monday at the cemetery, 10621 Victory Blvd., North Hollywood.

The service will include a flyover by F-16s from the 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno and vintage World War II aircraft by the Condor Squadron.

* A ceremony commemorating World War I will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at Burbank’s McCambridge Park War Memorial, corner of San Fernando Boulevard and Amherst Drive. Rep. James Rogan (R-Glendale), state Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) and Assemblyman Scott Wildman (D-Glendale) will speak.

* The Blue Pacific Swing Band will present a World War II-era tribute at 11 a.m. Monday at Forest Lawn Memorial-Park Hollywood Hills, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive.

* Msgr. Emmanuel Monahan will celebrate a 10 a.m. Mass on Monday at San Fernando Mission Cemetery, 11160 Stranwood Ave., Mission Hills. The choir from St. John de la Salle Catholic Church in Granada Hills will sing.

* Heroes from the Revolutionary War to Desert Storm will be memorialized at a 10:30 a.m. Monday service at Pierce Bros. Valley Oaks Memorial Park, 5600 Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village.

A choir of more than 100 voices will perform, in addition to the Air National Guard Band.

* Santa Clarita City Manager George Caravalho will speak at a Memorial Day tribute at 10 a.m. Monday at Eternal Valley Memorial Park, 23287 N. Sierra Highway, Newhall. The Santa Clarita Valley Concert Band will provide the music, and Saugus High School student Christopher Marashlian will read his award-winning essay.

* The U.S. Naval Sea Cadets will raise the colors at Memorial Day ceremonies at 11 a.m. Monday at Desert Lawn Memorial Park, 2220 Ave. S, Palmdale. Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford and Rita Burleson, district director representing Assemblyman George Runner (R-Lancaster), will speak.

* A candlelight ceremony is planned at 7:15 p.m. Sunday at Joshua Memorial Park, 808 E. Lancaster Blvd., Lancaster, with a Memorial Day tribute at 10 a.m. Monday.