Suggested: One Year Anniversary Remembrance Ceremony

After the Palisades Fire, all that people had left was debris, which was scooped up and hauled away.

As the one-year anniversary of the Palisades Fire approaches, there have been several suggestions about what should be done.

One of the most thoughtful comes from Citizen of the Year Jim Cragg (who associated with the American Legion and the Long Term Recover Group).

“White Glove Flag Presentation and Flag Retirement Ceremony” will feature a respectful program including the retirement of the oversized American flag at the Post Office, the presentation of flags and certificates to families who have lost a loved one, a bell ringing and display honoring those lost, and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque.

Highlights of the Ceremony:

• White glove presentation of flags to families who have lost loved ones.
• Color guard procession featuring representatives from the American Legion, LAPD, LAFD, and military.
• Retirement of the historic Post Office flag, which survived the fire, raising of a new flag, and dedication of the “survivor flag” flown during the fire, to be preserved and honored annually.
• Unveiling of a bronze plaque listing the names of those lost proposed for installation as a permanent memorial at a community landmark.
• Display of photos and names of the fire’s victims, and invitations for their families to participate in a moment of remembrance.

Circling the News also proposes a meditative memory walk to the Via de las Olas bluffs, after a reading of all Palisadian names lost in or because of the fire.

CTN would like to see all residents who perished this year to be remembered, this editor feel so many died after the fire because of the shock and the hopelessness they felt in being displaced.

Please send the deceased’s name, date of birth, date of death and the street they lived on in Pacific Palisades, so those names can also be read on January 7 to info@PaliLTRG.org.

CTN feels that this should be simple remembrance ceremony and no politicians/officials should be allowed to speak. This is simply about honoring our town’s dead and remembering them. This editor hopes that all the groups in town that have been working with recovery can join in an effort to make this a memorial to all who have passed.

To volunteer for this event or to send your loved one’s NAME, DATE OF BIRTH AND DATE, AND PALISADES STREET, contact info@PaliLTRG.org.

(Editor’s note: To the people who are angry, as is your editor, think how powerful it would be to carry a sign that says “SHAME” with an official’s name on it. Maybe hold it during the walk. Let the news cameras – and there will probably be a lot, know we remember those who died and where the responsibility for those deaths lie.)