This Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, marks 67 years since Japanese American communities in Los Angeles’ west side started gathering at the Ireito (memorial tower) at Woodlawn Cemetery to honor the area’s Issei pioneers and Nisei soldiers who died in World War II and the Korean War.
These forebears endured hardship and sacrifice in hopes of opportunities now enjoyed by the current generation and future ones.
The combined Buddhist and Christian Memorial Day service begins at 9 a.m. and is open to the public. Woodlawn Cemetery is on the corner of 14th Street and Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica.
In 1952, a group of Issei and Nisei within the Bay Cities area realized that persons of Japanese ancestry did not have a common site where they could gather and honor the deceased members of their communities on Memorial Day. There was a need to recognize and honor Issei pioneers, war heroes, and other predecessors of Japanese ancestry. A prospectus for building a monument for the unknown pioneers and predecessors of the Bay Cities area was adopted.
On Nov. 22, 1959, on a cemetery site donated by the City of Santa Monica, the Ireito was dedicated. U.S. Army Col. Carl F. White, Consul General of Japan Yukio Hasumi, and Santa Monica Mayor Ben Barnard took part in the dedication ceremony. People of Japanese ancestry now had a common site where they could gather and pay a memorial tribute to their predecessors.
On Jan. 17, 1994, a temblor with a magnitude of 6.9 toppled and destroyed the monument. A new one was constructed and rededicated at the 35th Bay Cities Japanese Community Memorial Day Joint Service on May 30, 1994.
On March 19, 2020, a statewide “stay at home” order was issued in California in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Woodlawn Cemetery and the organizers of the Bay Cities service determined that cancelling Memorial Day observances was in the best interest of public safety.
The tradition resumed when a hybrid in-person and virtual 62nd anniversary service was held on May 31, 2021.