After the indoor ceremony at the American Legion, people walked outside and were joined by people on the street for the Survivor Flag ceremony. Mia Ruhman sang the National Anthem.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT
A White Glove Remembrance and Tribute observance of the people killed in the January 7 Palisades Fire was held at the Ronald Reagan American Legion Post 283 Hall in Pacific Palisades. The January 7 ceremony was a solemn remembrance of the 12 lives lost in the fire and a remembrance of all of those residents who had died in 2025 – and of all that was lost.
After the fire, many who died had lived in their homes for 50 years or more. The shock of losing everything and then having to relocate to a new place was more stress than many could bear.
The event was also a tribute to the nearly 100 residents, which included the town’s clergy, who had stepped up after the fire and volunteered to help others.
Breakfast was provided by Palisades Garden Café and World Central Kitchen before people went inside. Immediately after the 2025 fire and in the months preceding it, WCK was on site, providing free meals to residents who came to see their property, to members of the Army Corps of Engineers and construction workers. It was essential because there was no place to eat in town, until James Kwon opened the Café in April.
The Palisades Symphony provided music for the ceremony.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT
On one side of the Legion Hall were politicians, on the other side were those being recognized. The Palisades Symphony provided beautiful music as people found their seats (it was invitation only). Sam Lagana served as emcee. Rabbi Amy Bernstein gave the invocation.
Jim Cragg, president of the Palisades Long Term Recovery Group and a former American Legion Commander, explained how after fighting fires in his neighborhood, he stopped by the Legion Hall on January 7. The Post was still standing. It would become the focal and center point for the town during recovery. It was a source of food, information – and bathrooms, when nothing else was left in the town.
“This place has been a bedrock for the community,” he said, and noted that it was the town’s founders, Legionnaires, who helped build the town and that it was imperative for this legion to continue that mission. “We committed to opening this place as a disaster center.”
He told the story of a woman came into the hall with her children after the fire, and asked to see the photos on the wall of the hall to show her children. The hallway contains pictures of all the past commanders of the Post. She told Cragg, “This is the only picture remaining of my dad.”
He thanked the Army Corps of Engineers for clearing the lots in six months and the National Guard for keeping the community safe.
Politicians were seated across from residents at the indoor ceremony.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT
He pointed out that usually elected officials were on stage, but today, they were seated opposite the residents. “Public officials are here to today to look in the face of our Palisadians,” Cragg said.
Directly across from officials were people who had lost family members in the fire. Eight of 12 families were at the ceremony. A girl, Charley, 11, passed out a single white rose to the eight families seated.
“She represents the children,” Cragg said, acknowledging it was his daughter. “She told me you’re always talking about everyone else, but you don’t talk about the children.” The town had three public schools and six private schools, and numerous preschools. All students had to be relocated to new or replacement schools.
Charlie, 11, gave each victim’s family a rose.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT
Cragg also spoke about the town’s seniors, which represented about 30 percent of the Palisades. “They bought into this community, in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, when you could buy a lot for $30,000. They don’t have the money to rebuild because they’re retired and can’t get the loans,” he said and added, “We’re honoring our senior citizens for the decades they spent to help build this community.”
Councilmember Traci Park spoke briefly, acknowledging that the Legion provided a space to meet and resources. “It wasn’t just homes that burned. The Fire took more than structures.. . .” she said, “it was the dreams and memories that were lost.”
She had a message from Colonel Eric Swenson, who had headed the six-month debris removal process in Southern California. He text her that morning, saying he wished he could be at the memorial. “Give my best to everyone.. . What the fire didn’t take from this community was its spirit.”
LTRG Executive Director Jessica Rogers told the family that morning 12 trees, Coastal Oak and Sycamore were being planted in Temescal Canyon to honor their loved ones. “Today we reclaim January 7.” Rogers said. “Let us turn the devastation into renewal.”
Cragg spoke about how when he returned from overseas deployment, the flag was important because he knew he was home. He said right after the fire, he and volunteers had placed flags at all the entry points to the Palisades. “I wanted people to see the flags before they saw the devastation,” Cragg said. “The flags are symbolic that the country is behind them.”
A bagpiper let the memorial procession.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT
The families and the volunteers were presented with flags. “With these flags we’re wrapping American around us,” Cragg said.
Those inside walked outside for the retirement of the “survivor flag” that flew as the January 7 fire raged around it. That flag will be preserved as a symbol of endurance. A new flag was raised as Palisades-own Mia Ruhman sang an impressive version of the National Anthem.
Then, a procession of nearly 500 people led by a bag piper, five horses, a color guard walked up La Cruz, to Sunset to the Village Green, where a final ceremony was held.
Blessings and a brief reflection came from a Tongva representative, Sharon Kilbride – a Marquez descendent – the original landowners, and Methodist Pastor Catie Coots. The town’s founding was led by the Methodists in 1920.
A drum circle honored the land and the people. All were asked to share aloud the name of a pet or a loved one who had passed last year. The families put a white rose by the photo of a loved one that had been mounted at the green, and as they did, a bell was rung.
Families placed a rose by the deceased’s photo that were on the Village Green.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT
PALISADES FIRE DEATHS:
Randall Miod, 55 (Malibu)
Elizabeth Morgan 79
Charles Mortimer, 84
Betty O’Meara, 94 (Malibu)
Annette Rossilli, 85
Mark Shterenberg, 80
Arthur Simoneau, 69 (Topanga)
Rory Sykes, 32 (Malibu) – (blind and cerebral palsy)
Jeffrey Takeyama 69 (Malibu)
Diane Webb, 82 (Malibu)
Hak Wong, 69
Marilyn Hamilton, 71
Sunset was closed during the final portion of the memorial held on the Village Green.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT
When I first saw the trucks with the flags, they were riding down the street at the same time the Pali students were walking with the flags. I thought that was incredible and I was so proud of the Pali students and I assume that they were on their way to the School to commemorate its opening.
Sometime later, the trucks returned honking with flags flying, and I saw Trump stickers and pictures of Trump on the window, which was a little bit disturbing because I felt that they were taking advantage of both the solemn nature of our event and our protest against those who have failed us and they were there for some reason promoting Trump or trying to make it into a political statement. I didn’t mention this to anybody, but obviously other people noticed the same thing I did.
This was the right idea. A ceremony of solemn remembrance.
Searched on whether it is true that fire survivor seniors cannot get loans. Seems they can, so more info is needed. PS: I had a fraud attempt on my SBA account that, I was told, canceled the deadline for filing with SBA:
https://duckduckgo.com/?ia=web&origin=funnel_home_website&t=hk&hps=1&q=Is+it+true+that+Los+Angeles+fire+survivors+seniors+cannot+get+loans+to+rebuild%3F&atb=v212-1