Memorial Day ceremonies honor fallen servicemembers

Staff Sgt. Stephanie P. Abdullah stands tall at the wreath-laying ceremony at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale. The ceremony began with a procession from the Little Church of the Flowers to the burial site of a Civil War soldier.  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

A band, the Scottish Bagpipes and Drums, played patriotic music during the wreath-laying ceremony in Glendale.  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Grave sites are adorned with flags and crosses during Fullerton’s 71st Memorial Day observance at Loma Vista Memorial Park.  (Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times)

Ten-year-old Nicholas Viveros is escorted by a Marine during the wreath-laying ceremony in Fullerton.  (Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times)

Erma Elzy visits her father’s grave at Los Angeles National Cemetery in Westwood.  (Christina House / For The Times)

James Chau, right, and his family walk through Los Angeles National Cemetery in Westwood, where more than 85,000 members of the U.S. military have been buried dating back to 1889.  (Christina House / For The Times)