Honoring Memory and Growing Community at Victory Memorial Grove
by Courtland Jindra
Longtime Friends of Elysian Park supporter Courtland Jindra shares a recap of the 2025 Victory Memorial Grove ceremony—a tradition he has helped organize and grow since 2017, in collaboration with civic groups, veterans organizations, and Friends of Elysian Park, which cares for the native plant garden year-round.
Back in early 2016, my (now) wife and I rediscovered Victory Memorial Grove (VMG). The garden, along with the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) monument located there, was in a rundown state. I quickly made it my goal to get them restored. After coordinating with various civic and veterans organizations, that effort culminated in a re-dedication of the DAR boulder on Flag Day in 2017.
Early on, my mother—who is a member of the Los Angeles-Eschscholtzia Chapter of DAR—and I thought the best way to keep the reclamation effort active would be to host annual events onsite, ensuring that the place would not fall into neglect again. Other than in 2020, during the height of COVID, we’ve kept to that plan—and each year, more and more of the Grove and surrounding park has been improved.
That momentum has continued thanks to the support of many, including Friends of Elysian Park, who’ve helped bring energy and attention to this effort. It’s become a true community undertaking.
This year’s program went off well. We began shortly after 10 AM with the Los Angeles County Fire Department Honor Guard presenting the colors as attendees sang the National Anthem. Once everyone took their seats, I served as Master of Ceremonies and gave a brief background on how I got involved with VMG, introduced some of the key players, and thanked Council District 13, who continue to sponsor the annual tribute.
I then welcomed Al Naipo, who led everyone on a historical journey through the WWI era and the origins of VMG. Robert Tidwell, a historical reenactor, presented excerpts from two speeches by President Wilson. Phillip Murphy, Co-President of Friends of Elysian Park; Monica Nichelson, Commander of Hollywood American Legion Post 43; and Meghan Lewis, Regent of the Los Angeles-Eschscholtzia DAR, each read newspaper excerpts and selections from various dedicatory addresses made over a century ago.
Next, I introduced Ronald Davisdson, Commander of the US Western International Zone of the Royal Canadian Legion, who gave a moving reading of In Flanders Fields, the immortal war poem by Canadian Major John McCrae. As the ceremony came to a close, the DAR members in attendance placed a wreath at the foot of the VMG monument while, in the distance, Rudy Gutierrez played Taps. I concluded by reading a few words from Margaret Powell-Stookey’s 1921 dedication speech, in which she encouraged the audience to return each year in remembrance.
Another ceremony has now passed, and afterward people gathered to reflect and talk about what’s next for Victory Memorial Grove. I can’t help but be proud of all that we’ve accomplished together—though I still hold even greater hopes for what the future holds for this special place.