By Courtland Jindra

*A Flag Day ceremony at the Victory Memorial Grove in 2019.*

After the First World War, communities large and small throughout the country struggled with how best to remember their fallen. Large memorials built by the federal government were very uncommon a century ago, so local and state leaders took up the slack. Discussions ranged between the more traditional statues or monuments and others who favored “living memorials."

Los Angeles was much the same. More than twenty-three thousand Angelenos had served in the armed forces. Of those, more than 400 had paid the ultimate sacrifice. Debates on how best to honor the troops had become heated among civic organizations and city officials alike. Eventually, a variety of memorials were dedicated throughout the area. All over the nation, parks were one popular way to remember the fallen. The Los Angeles Examiner specifically promoted this idea in Southern California. It is tough to determine exactly how much influence the newspaper had, but just prior to Memorial Day 1919, the newspaper offered the following resolution in writing to the LA Parks Commissioners, who adopted it unanimously on May 29th, 1919:

"WHEREAS, "The Los Angeles Examiner" has suggested that a Victory Memorial Grove of trees be planted on property of the Los Angeles Park Commission and be perpetually cared for by the Commission in recognition of the sacrifice made by Los Angeles heroes in the cause of liberty, and

WHEREAS, The site for the proposed Victory Memorial Grove has been selected as a hill in Elysian Park and thereby lends itself easily to watering and other practical features of cultivation; is readily accessible, and is a location which, by reason of its altitude, would allow the living green memorial to be seen at all times by the residents of Los Angeles and visitors, therefore be it
RESOLVED that the members of the Park Commission formally agree on the site;

AND WHEREAS; it is deemed that the most suitable occasion for the dedication of Victory Memorial Grove is Memorial Day, May 30, and in the forenoon of that day so as not to conflict with the Memorial services already planned for the afternoon; and that a start should be made by Los Angeles, in keeping with the movement which has taken hold in cities over the nation to honor their heroes with this simple and befitting means, so that in future years the people of the city may have the opportunity of doing honor to, and commemorating the deeds of, its heroic dead, therefore be it further,

RESOLVED; That the members of the Park Commission undertake the presentation of a dedicatory program on the morning of Memorial Day, to comprise such features as a dedicatory address, responses, community singing and the planting of the first tree, or other such exercises as the members see fit to plan, in order that the custom of the years to come may be ushered in, and that the people at large may begin to look upon Victory Memorial Grove as a place of reverence to be more beautiful each year.”

The chosen location was what is today Radio Hill. An initial tree was dedicated and hopes appeared high for the future of the site. The park’s archives are full of inquiries into planting trees at the Memorial Grove. Land surveys were done, but there was a problem with access to the new park. Within a year, frustration seemed to boil over since nothing had been done besides the initial tree being sown. President of the Parks Commissioners, Leafie Sloan-Orcutt, eyed another site for this "Victory Memorial Grove.”

A Local Angeleno Takes the Lead

*Mrs. Mary Stilson, who spearheaded the efforts to establish Victory Memorial Grove and donated land at the grove’s entrance.*

Mary Stilson was a mover and shaker in early 20th century Los Angeles. She was heavily involved in real estate after her husband had died with massive land holdings in 1888. Along with her son, they developed many areas around modern central Los Angeles, including Angeleno Heights.

Stilson also was into civic organizations, including Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). She had earlier been State Regent and was still a well-placed member. In March of 1920, the State officers decided they wished to honor the "memory of those who had served in the World War from the families of the state organization." They especially sought to recognize those that gave their lives in the cause. Women from the southern part of the state formed a committee to take on the mission to bring this project to fruition. Four local LA area chapters took the lead in raising money and getting a plaque made. Though the committee was SoCal in origin, the entire State's membership was represented. Given some of the relatives who perished in the war lived in other states, it was destined to not just be a State monument, but in some ways something of a national, or even international one (a British Naval Surgeon who lost his life at sea had a sister in the organization and was also included).

Stilson didn't lead the memorial committee, but soon after, the group received permission from the Parks Board (it likely did not hurt that the Mayor's wife, May Snyder, was a member of DAR) to place a monument at Victory Memorial Grove and requested a walk through. Were the ladies displeased with the site? Did Sloan-Orcutt ask them for a new site, or did they ask her? This has been lost to history. However, by July, Stilson had donated part of her land holdings off of Lilac Terrace to the Parks Board.

At a late July meeting of the Park Commissioners, William Bowen exploded, "We were bamboozled when we had that site 'wished' on us by the Examiner," and felt "like apologizing to the City Council." Mrs. Sloan-Orcutt retorted: "It was a perfectly good site, only we found out that we could not buy a lot for an entrance so we could get into the park...we are going to dedicate the new one next Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock too."

And so they did. On August 2nd, 1920 the current Victory Memorial Grove (Stilson's land formed the entryway to the grove) was established with the planting of three oaks. One by Mayor "Pinkie" Snyder in honor of his son Captain Ross Snyder, one by Mr. Otterman Stevens for his wife Elizabeth Stevens (creator of the Red Cross salvage system to raise money for the war effort) and one by Lieutenant Burton Fitts on behalf of The American Legion in honor of all those who lost their lives in the World War.

A Space to Pay Respects

Once the new site was established, improvements came much more quickly. On Armistice Day 1920, poppy seeds from Flanders were sewn by members of the American Legion as well as residents of the area. Walking paths were designed and a flagpole was planned to be put in the ground so that "people, when they visit the spot, will know and appreciate it." More trees were planted, including thirteen bought by Captain Walter Brinkop in tribute to the men who lost their lives under his command. A plaque for the entryway of the site was designed by local sculptress Julia Bracken Wendt, but was unfortunately never cast in bronze.

Meanwhile, the DAR ladies quickly raised the money and went forward with erecting their monument. The granite marker was from a California quarry and the chiseling was done by the Lane Brothers, a local company of the time that specialized in stonework. The bronze tablet was designed by artist Mr. W.A. Sharp. Besides the twenty-one names listed (there is one omission likely occurring with Frank Davis's mother not getting his name in before the deadline to cast - he was remembered in the dedication program and booklet), six shields sit on the borders. They represent the Army, the Navy, Aviation, the Red Cross, the state shield and the insignia of DAR. Above everything is an eagle, the national symbol of guardianship. With much pomp and circumstance, the monument was dedicated on Flag Day, June 14th, 1921. In her opening speech, State Vice-Regent Margaret Powell Stookey declared:

"Here high on this beautiful hillside we have chosen a spot for our memorial--high above the life and turmoil of the city, glimpses of which we see though the protecting hills, our boulder stands and carries its message to the World--our thanks to our loved ones expressed in this simple way. High enough it stands that the sun in the morning touches it with its rays of promise and keeps it ever in a flood of light until the great golden ball sinks into the sea at the close of day--and back of it the towering strength of our wonderful mountains--the whole setting symbolic of their lives and deeds--towering strength and protection, blessings given, promises fulfilled and the close of day here only meaning the continuation of the Day Elsewhere."

Music was played, a poem was read, more speeches given and, finally, the monument — which had been hidden by a massive service flag — was unveiled. Though it was fittingly an overcast day given the somber proceedings, it was also a moving one. At the end, Mrs. Stookey took the lectern again as she bestowed the monument to the City of Los Angeles for their caretakership. In her closing remarks she stated, "This is but an outward expression of what is in our hearts and may we establish the custom of a pilgrimage each year to this spot to pay tribute to these who were our great friends and benefactors.”

With that Mr. Conaway, assistant to Mayor Snyder, accepted the monument on behalf of the city.

The Los Angeles Times seemed to believe that Flag Day would be a day of tributes at the Grove going forward writing “Undoubtedly as other flag days come other memorials will be erected, thus making the grove one of the fine memories of patriotism.” Memorial trees continued to be planted for years after the park's establishment. The trees themselves were free of charge, but loved ones had to pay $50 for the required plaques that accompanied the tree, a considerable sum a century ago. It is difficult to determine exactly how many trees were planted at Victory Memorial Grove as the archives are skeletal, but what documents do exist indicates that it is likely there were more than forty. It's also tough to know when exactly memorial tributes and/or ceremonies ended at the park, when the monument became ignored or when the Grove itself fell into disrepair.

A Renewed Appreciation for the Victory Memorial Grove

*Members of the Citizens Committee to Save Elysian Park plant new trees at the Victory Memorial Grove in 2018.*

Since 2017, several civic organizations including the Los Angeles-Escholtzia DAR, Hollywood Post 43 of the American Legion, and the Citizens Committee to Save Elysian Park among others, first worked on restoring the monument and grounds immediately surrounding it. Then the movement moved toward the park as a whole. Efforts have included replanting trees, fixing the historic flagpole, sowing various varieties of flowers and other plants and generally reactivating this space.

It has also become a yearly tradition to mark Flag Day at Victory Memorial Grove. The idea is not to just honor those listed on the monument, but all the doughboys, nurses, sailors and others who died in the First World War. Without us, the living, memorials are just forgotten parcels of land and ignored stones or plaques. We give them their purpose. Elysian Park is intended for recreation, however, Victory Memorial Grove is also meant for contemplation of the tremendous sacrifice the First World War represented — more Americans dying in 18 months than in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars combined.

Please join us Monday, June 14th at 10am for a scaled-down, socially distant ceremony as we raise a new flag over Elysian Park, celebrate the progress of our efforts the last four years and consider those the park honors.

Please RSVP here.