Pasadena Memorial Day Ceremony, May 25, 2026 (Photo – W.K.)
On a quiet Monday morning beneath shifting gray skies and the occasional burst of sun, Pasadena gathered in solemn unity to remember those who never came home.
By John Boucher
The Pasadena Memorial Day Remembrance, held Monday, May 25, 2026, at Memorial Park, drew veterans, families, civic leaders, cadets, and community members together for an hour-long ceremony honoring the fallen men and women of the United States military. Beginning at 10:30 am and concluding shortly after 11:30 am, the observance carried unusual historical weight, arriving during the 251st year of the U.S. military and the nation’s 250th anniversary year following the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
At the heart of the ceremony was the reading of the names of 320 members of the Pasadena community who gave their lives in service during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the War on Terror. As each name echoed through Memorial Park, the sacrifice behind every syllable seemed to settle over the crowd.
Then came the roar overhead.
The Condor Squadron Missing Man Formation Flyover crossed the sky as the names were being read, a haunting aerial tribute that left many in silence as one aircraft broke away from formation, the enduring symbol of a service member lost.
One of the ceremony’s most emotional moments came during military funeral honors for Specialist Five Charles Pierre Gerrard. A folded American flag was presented to Gerrard’s family, a gesture steeped in tradition and gratitude, representing a nation’s recognition of sacrifice that can never truly be repaid.
Young people also played a visible role in preserving that tradition of remembrance. Cadets from the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps Pasadena Division assisted throughout the ceremony, while students from Blair High School’s Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps participated in the presentation and retirement of the colors, bridging generations of military service and civic duty.
Keynote speaker Lt. Colonel Steven Uziel, Inspector-Instructor for the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment since 2025, reflected on the meaning of remembrance and the enduring responsibility carried by the living.
The invocation and benediction were delivered by Chaplain Ted Saraf of American Legion Post 13, whose prayers called for peace, gratitude, and continued care for veterans and Gold Star families.
The event was sponsored by the City of Pasadena Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena Management Association, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 446, Martin Severance Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and American Legion Post 13.
For one hour in the center of Pasadena, history felt close enough to touch. In the reading of names, in the thunder of aircraft overhead, and in the careful folding of a flag, a community paused to remember those who gave everything, not for recognition, but for country.
Presentation of the flags by Blair High School’s JROTC (Photo – W.K.)
Keynote speaker Lt. Colonel Steven Uziel, Cadets from the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps Pasadena Division reading names, and presentation of a folded American flag to Gerrard’s family (Photos – W.K.)
The Condor Squadron Flyover (Photo – W.K.)
Pasadena Memorial Day Ceremony, May 25, 2026 (Photo – W.K.)
Leave a Reply