Archbishop José H. Gomez led a Memorial Day Mass at San Fernando Mission Cemetery Monday, honoring fallen service members as part of countywide observances across the San Fernando Valley.
Archbishop celebrated an outdoor Mass on Memorial Day Monday at and in Mission Hills, honoring U.S. armed forces members who died in service to the country. The Mass began at , according to event listings from ABC7 and KFI AM 640.
The ceremony is one of several Memorial Day observances taking place across Los Angeles County. San Fernando residents gathered at the historic mission grounds for a somber tribute to fallen service members.
"Dedicated to serving our nation's fallen and the families these heroes have left behind by providing comprehensive support," according to Honoring Our Fallen, the organization coordinating Memorial Day events in the region.
The San Fernando Mass is part of a broader day of remembrance across the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles County. Other notable events include:
President Donald Trump issued a Memorial Day proclamation designating Monday as a day of prayer for permanent peace. The proclamation cited a 1950 joint resolution by Congress and called for Americans to unite in prayer at 11 a.m. in each time zone.
Trump also requested that flags be flown at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day across all government buildings and naval vessels. He specifically honored 13 members of the joint force who died in support of Operation Epic Fury.
"The greatest fighting force the world has ever known is built upon the extraordinary service of selfless men and women who safeguard our liberty and preserve our way of life," Trump declared in his proclamation.
The president also asked Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m., a practice established by law in 2000 under former President Bill Clinton.
Memorial Day traces its origins to May 30, 1868, when it was first observed as Decoration Day. Maj. Gen. John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, established the day to honor Civil War dead. The holiday expanded after World War I to commemorate Americans who died in all wars.
The term "Memorial Day" was first used in 1882 and became the official name by federal law in 1967. The holiday was moved to the last Monday in May in 1971 under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.
For San Fernando residents, the Archbishop's Mass at the Mission Cemetery offered a local anchor in a day of remembrance that stretched across the entire county.
This article was generated with AI assistance.