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Salute Los Angeles
4th of July Historical Tribute
Parade - Special Events - Entertainment - Cannon and Musket Salute
(Parade starts at Cesar Chavez and Main St., 9:00 a.m.)
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A Fort Moore Pioneer Memorial Event
 THE LARGEST BAS-RELIEF MILITARY MONUMENT IN THE U.S.
(451 North Hill Street. Los Angeles, CA )

   

  L.A.'s ONLY JULY 4TH CANNON and MUSKET FIRE
(Fort Moore Garrison Artillery)
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Grand Marshall
 Antonio Villaraigosa
  L.A. City Councilmember, 14th District

Event Overview
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The 12th annual 4th of July event paid tribute to the history of Los Angeles, its pioneers, the first Los Angeles Independence Day, historical Fort Moore Pioneer Monument, veterans, and the entire community of the city of Los Angeles.  Antonio Villaraigosa, L.A. City Councilmember, will be the grand marshal for the event and will lead a parade of re-enactors, bands, and dignitaries on an historic path through downtown L.A.  This event is a fun learning experience for the entire family.  You can be a part of the “echoes” of Los Angeles history and pay tribute to over 156 years of tradition.  Set in historic downtown Los Angeles, the event is one to remember with authentic 1847-period costumes, real cannons, muskets, and accurate historic re-enactment.  You do not want to miss this.  It is an event for Los Angeles pride and unity.  Cannon and musket fire, historical re-enactments, tributes to Los Angeles and to veterans, children’s activities, family history search computers, pie-eating contest, street party, entertainment, and much more.  The event pays tribute to the city of Los Angeles, its history, and our veterans.  A true 4th of July event.  The event is produced in conjunction with the Los Angeles City Council 14th District, Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina, Fort Moore Memorial Committee, and El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument.  This year’s sponsors include Downtown L.A. Motors Mercedes-Benz, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and R.R.R. Scholarship Foundation.  See the message from the event Chair Carol Autenrieth. Message from Chair

Message from Antonio Villaraigosa

"This 4th of July I am proud to join the Fort Moore Memorial Committee in commemorating the 156th Anniversary of the first Independence Day Celebration in Los Angeles.  As we reflect on the world events of the past two years, we are reminded of how precious our liberty is both here in America and abroad."  -- Antonio Villaraigosa, LA City Councilmember, 14th District, June 2003.

Become Part of the 2004 Salute to Los Angeles

 SALUTE LOS ANGELES. THERE'S A WINNER IN YOU.
Photos above  by
Larry Downs


Special Events
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Historical Parade - Fort Moore Events - Olvera Street Party

HISTORICAL PARADE
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  • Parade ( 9:00 a.m.)

    Grand Marshall: Antonio Villaraigosa, L.A. City Councilmember,  14th District, will lead a parade of re-enactors, bands, and dignitaries which will leave Olvera Street Plaza and Main Street and travel north on Cesar Chavez to North Hill place, then on to Hill Street and the Monument.
     

  • Marching Bands

         Scurr High School Marching Band (Montebello, California)
     Under the direction of Leonard Narumi
     East Los Angeles College Marching Band (Los Angeles, California)
     
  • Chinese Line Dancers - San Gabriel Valley Chinese Cultural Association
     
  • Xipe Tote Aztec Group
     
  • Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA)

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FORT MOORE EVENTS
451 N. Hill Street
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  • Historical re-enactments (10:00 a.m.)

    Recreate the original ceremony at Fort Moore as it happened 156 years ago - dramatic re-enactment of the original dedication of Fort Moore Los Angeles, California July 4, 1847- re-enactors dressed in authentic period costumes.
     

  • WOW! - Cannon and Musket Fire (beginning at 9:00 a.m.)

    Cap Cresap, Fort Moore Garrison Artillery (about cannons and history) Commander, Dragoon Lieutenant Colonel

OLVERA STREET PARTY
Olvera Street Plaza

  • Flag Raising Ceremony – (11:30 a.m.) Led by Antonio Villaraigosa, L.A. City Councilmember, 14th District
  • Salute America Awards (12:00 p.m.) – Salute Los Angeles Campaign
  • Tribute to Los Angeles and to our veterans

           Colonel Joseph N. Smith,
           Director Department of Military and  Veterans Affairs County of Los Angeles
          
           Dewell Cooper
           Adjutant American Legion, Los Angeles

           Robert Allen
           Veteran

           Otto Autenrieth
           Korean War Veteran

           See other award recipients

  • Family History Search on computers (12:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
  • Pie and Watermelon Eating Contests
  • Face Painting
  • Street Party with Entertainment

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A 4th of July Event to Remember
For the Entire Los Angeles Community

Thank You for Your the Cars
 Downtown L.A. Motors Mercedes-Benz

Fort Moore Pioneer Memorial
The Monument is located at 451 N. Hill Steet just north of the Hollywood Freeway.
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 Message From Chair

  Carol Autenrieth, Chairman
Fort Moore Memorial Committee
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L.A.’s First Independence Day commemoration began in 1991, some years with just a small group of people and Boy Scout Troop #560.  In 1997, at the 150-year anniversary of this event, it expanded with a parade, cannon and musket fire, and volunteers from Fort Tejon State Historic Park dressed as United States Dragoons, and volunteers dressed as 1st Iowa Volunteers (aka Mormon Battalion) who together re-enacted L.A.’s First Independence Day, some on horseback, and others providing the cannon fire and color guard.  The event has grown in interest, and over the years has become an annual tribute to Los Angeles and its history. 

We will again commemorate L.A.’s First Independence Day, Friday, July 4th, 2003.  This event will consist of re-enactors dressed in authentic period costume to recreate the original ceremony at Fort Moore as it happened 156 years ago.  The celebration will egin at 9 a.m. as cannon fire will echo from historic Fort Moore Hill.  A parade of re-enactors, bands, and dignitaries will leave the Olvera Street Ave. area on Main Street, and travel north on Cesar Chavez Avenue to North Hill Place, then on to Hill Street, and the monument. 

Our re-enactment program will be presented at the monument complete with cannon fire, musket fire and raising a 28-star flag.  Antonio Villaraigosa will address the assemblage before we move to the Olvera Street Plaza, where he will raise the flag and honor our veterans and their families.  We will have a street party with entertainment, a living history encampment in Father Junipero Serra Park, children’s activities, and family history search computers.  Our sponsors last year were the City of Los Angeles, the County of Los Angeles, the Fort Moore Memorial Committee, Downtown L.A. Motors Mercedes-Benz, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

The First Independence Day
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On the 4th of July, 1847, in a ceremony involving 700 parading troops, the New York Volunteers Brass Band, and on-looking local townspeople and Indians, the 28-star U.S. flag was raised to a 13-musket salute by the 1st United States Dragoons.  The Fort was christened Fort Moore by Colonel Jonathan Stevenson, being named after Captain Benjamin Davies Moore, an officer of the First Dragoons killed at the Battle of San Pasqual. 

Later in the evening, an Independence Day Ball sponsored by the officers of the Fort Moore Garrison was held at J. W. Davidson’s residence, and many of the fine gentlemen and ladies of the Pueblo were invited.  Those in attendance included the wives of Generals Carillo, Flores, and Pico.  Only six months before these generals had opposed the Americans’ entry into their city.  Many other finely attired Californio ladies and gentlemen of the Pueblo were present.  A contest for the belle of the evening was held, and the winner was the sister of General Flores’ wife.   The company danced until 1:00 a.m., then went into the supper room for a sumptuous fare of refreshments before returning to the ballroom with renewed vigor to dance until dawn.  The enlisted men also hosted a ball in their quarters, that closed at dawn as well.  And so ended the celebration of this, the first anniversary of American independence that had been celebrated in this city.  This joint celebration healed and bound up the wounds of war and fostered mutual enjoyment of the emerging culturally diverse traditions that have always been a part of Los Angeles culture. 

Building Fort Moore 
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January 12, 1847, General Stephen W. Kearny ordered William H. Emory of the First United Stated Dragoons to select a site and design a fort for 100 men that could command the town and its approaches.  Lieutenant Emory selected a prominent hill and designed a star-shaped fort.   On January 17, 1847, construction was suspended when the Treaty of Cahuenga was signed, in which General Pico and his local California forces agreed with Lt. Col. John C. Fremont to recognize the American authority in exchange for amnesty for the inhabitants. 

In the spring of 1847, a rumor

circulated that the Mexican General Bustamente was coming with 1,500 troops from Sonora, Mexico to recapture Los Angeles.  In response, on April 23, 1847, General Stephen Kearny directed Lieutenant J. W. Davidson to design and build a fort twice as large as the first one would have been.  The four companies of the 1st Iowa Volunteers (“Mormon Battalion”) were ordered to commence work on the fort.  Construction took over two months. Fort Moore was garrisoned with two companies of the First United States Dragoons, and two companies of the 7th New York Volunteers (also known as Stevenson’s Regiment) and four companies of the “Mormon Battalion.” The garrison commander was Colonel Jonathan Stevenson of the New York Volunteers, who took over the command of the Fort Garrison when General Kearny left California for Washington, D.C., in May, 1847. 

The duties of this garrison were primarily peace keeping..  

Hollywood Bowl “Fort Moore July 4, 1847 Centennial”
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Friday evening, July 2, 1948, a centennial was held.  The Los Angeles County Centennials Celebrations, Inc., with the cooperation of the California State Centennials Commission proudly presented a dramatic re-enactment of the original dedication of Fort Moore, Los Angeles, California, July 4, 1847. 

The printed program has pictures of Fiestas of Yesteryear, including First Fiesta Parade 1894, Fiesta Parade 1897, President McKinley 1901 Fiesta, and pictures of Los Angeles in 1850 and 1948. 

1958 The Fort Moore Pioneer Memorial
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A final feature of the monument, a majestic pylon 68 feet in height and 15 feet in width was constructed to give emphasis to the 73-foot flagpole in front of the pylon.  Funds for the pylon and flagpole were provided through the efforts of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Sons and Daughters of Utah Pioneers.  In 1958 the monument was easily visible from the city’s Union Railroad Station and lies at an elevation 80 feet above another historical monument: Olvera Street.   From the upper level of Fort Moore, visitors enjoy an unsurpassed panorama of city and mountains, with the rapidly developing Civic Center in the foreground.  At their feet lies a symbol of pioneer California and in the distance, the seemingly endless vista of the nation’s third largest community, once known as Pueblo de los Angeles. 

Dedication of Monument
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The monument was dedicated July 3, 1958. 

General John C. Fremont arrived at
Fort Moore on July 18, 1860 to a cannon salute.
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The cannon salute is a tradition.  General John C. Fremont arrived at Fort Moore on July 18, 1860 to a cannon salute.  General George S. Patton, Jr., and Lt. General James Doolittle arrived at Fort Moore from the European theater of World Ward II June 9, 1945 and were received with a cannon salute.

More About Fort Moore Pioneer Memorial
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Henry Kreis and Albert Stewart, 1957. West of Hill street, north of 101 Freeway.

On January 12, 1847, two days after United States troops occupied Los Angeles during the war with Mexico, construction of an adobe fort began on top of the hill where the Fort Moore Pioneer Memorial is now located. Completed by the Mormon Battalion, which arrived in Los Angeles in March, the fort was dedicate on July 4, 1847, and remained in service only until 1853, when it was decommissioned. It was named in memory of Captain Benjamin Davies Moore who was one of 21 Americans killed during the battle of San Pasqual near San Diego in December 1846. Though this battle, ..., was a military victory for the Californians led by Andres Pico, it failed to stop American forces from capturing Los Angeles a month later.

The Fort Moore Pioneer Memorial, funded by the County of Los Angeles, the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Board of Education and the Department of Water and Power, was designed by Kazumi Adachi and Dike Nagano, and dedicated on July 3, 1957.

A 78' x 45' terra cotta panel designed by Henry Kreis is the most notable feature of the Memorial. Fabricated by the prominent California terra cotta manufacturer Gladding, McBean, it was reported at the time of its installation to be the largest bas-relief in the United States. The most prominent of the panel's four sections is the only public art in Los Angeles portraying an historic event that occurred at the actual site of the work. Measuring 45' x 35', it depicts the ceremonial flag being raised over the fort on July 4, 1847. To insure the authenticity of the uniforms worn by the U.S. First Dragoons, the New York Volunteers and the Mormon Batallion - the units witnessing the ceremony - Kreis was advised by noted California historians Glenn Dumke and Robert Cleland. Historic themes in the development of Los Angeles are symbolized in the other three reliefs: the uppermost represents the agricultural and spiritual foundation of the region; the middle panel depicts the transportation that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century; and the lower section contains an inscription written by the Department of Water & Power and portrays the crucial role that water and electricity play in a large modern city.

To the right of the bas reliefs is an 80 foot long waterfall that has been out of service since the 1977 drought. A 237 foot long brick facade, serving as a backdrop for a 68 foot high pylon, is the largest part of the Memorial. Albert Stewart designed the 16' x 11' American eagle on the pylon as well as the incised relief on the low wall along the sidewalk depicting in narrative form the 1100 mile march of the Mormon Battalion from Council Bluffs, Iowa to Los Angeles.

Fort Moore Garrison Artillery
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Cap Cresap (pictured below), Fort Moore Garrison Artillery Commander and Dragoon Lieutenant Colonel, shall command the cannon and musket fire at the July 4, 2003 celebration.  Above, Cap Cresap is pictured with members of Mormon Battalion who are dressed in the civilian clothes of a volunteer.  The 2 cannons are guns that the battalion works with. 

The green cannon is a 12 pound mountain howitzer, model 1841.  John Fremont brought one with him to California but left it in the mountains.  Stephen Kearny brought 2 with his dragoons and lost one to the Californian forces in the battle at San Pasqual. Fremont arranged for its return at the treaty at Campo de Cahuenga.  Both mountain howitzers were eventually kept at Fort Moore by the Battalion.  After their return to Utah, they bought one in their capacity at the time as the Utah Territorial Militia. 

The other cannon is a copy of one we believe to have been the gun bought from John Sutter.  After their separation from the army, many of the battalion members arrived in Sacramento and got employment from John Sutter, including the 6 who built the mill where the gold discovery was made.  After their employment contracts were filled, some of the group pooled their pay and bought 2 brass guns from Sutter.  One of the guns was described as a small 4 pound bronze cannon.  I located a small 4 pound bronze cannon in the LDS Church museum in Salt Lake City.  It is the correct style and date as the Battalion gun, but they have no information about where that gun came from.  So we just say this probably was the battalion gun since its date and style match the diaries of the time and there were few other small guns of that type available.  It is mounted on a wagon type carriage so it can be used at our events. 

Above picture is musket salute.
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Event History
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What? No Flag on the Fourth of July?
By
Carol Autenrieth

In 1990, a year following my father’s death, I took my mother Netta Roylance to Los Angeles in the early morning of the 4th of July hoping to see a flag up at the Fort Moore Pioneer Memorial since my father’s ancestor John Roylance of Mormon Battalion Company D had helped build Fort Moore.  There was no flag flying!  I investigated the next day and learned the L.A. Unified School District headquarters on the top of the hill was responsible for placing the flag on that flagpole daily.  I asked why they hadn’t put a flag on the flagpole on the 4th of July.  I was told, “the man had the day off.”  This didn’t sit well because I believed there should be a flag on that memorial flagpole on the 4th of July if no other flag in Los Angeles.  This is where L.A.’s first Independence Day celebration was held in 1847.  As captain of the Pueblo de Los Angeles Daughters of Utah Pioneers camp, I gathered our members and Troop 560 of the Boy Scouts of America and invited the community to participate in a 4th of July celebration the following year.   That was 1991.  So, from 1991 to 1996, we borrowed the national and state flags from the L.A. Unified School District for our flag raising ceremonies with Boy Scout Troop 560 of West Los Angeles and El Pueblo de Los Angeles Daughters of  Utah Pioneers Camp.  In 1996 when I called to borrow their flags, I was told that the USA flag had aged and was too worn to use.  I phoned Patriotic Hall and spoke with Colonel Joseph M. Smith, retired, director of Patriotic Hall and told him my dilemma.  Within 20 minutes, I received a return call from Mr. Larkin, the plant manager and Mr. Martin Tucker, deputy director of Police and Administrative Services for the L.A. Unified School District.  “Are you the lady who stirred up the hornet’s nest?”  “Yes.”  Patriotic Hall had promised to send a 50-star garrison flag to replace the worn-out one.  Our organization would have the privilege to be the first to fly the new flag on the 4th of July, which we did.

In preparing for the 1997 celebration, and realizing it would be the sesquicentennial (150th) anniversary of the 1847 original event, we decided to make it a big event.  The Fort Moore Memorial Committee was formed and we took a proposal to Keith Atkinson of the Public Affairs office and he put Jay Johnson in charge.  The committee then took the proposal for the event to the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument at Olvera Street and we met with Caroline Asencio, who was the director of special events.  She was delighted as was her boss, and remarked how great it would be to have a 4th of July event in conjunction with Olvera Street and the merchants.  I explained how our histories tied together, how we all celebrated that first 4th of July event, dancing all night long, with both an officer and enlisted men’s dances.   

Beginning with the 1997 celebration, we have included re-enactments of the naming and dedication of the Fort with as many as 120 volunteers dressed in authentic garb, speakers, parades, bands, 13- and 28- musket salutes, cannon firings, multiple dance groups including Xipe Totec Aztec Indians, Lively Arts History Association with an early Californios band with Walter Nelson, master dance caller, living history encampments at Father Junipero Serra Park, children’s face painting, helium balloons, pancake breakfast fundraisers, and many other public delights.

1997 we had Reverend Monsignor Terry Fleming moderator of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese give the invocation.  Richard Bon was our narrator portraying William Beddome, the last known survivor of the Mormon Battalion.  Duane H. King, executive director of the Southwest Museum gave the Declaration of Independence representing Lt. George Stoneman.  Joe Northrop, founder and president of Los Pobladores 200 and past president of the Los Angeles Historical Society gave a brief history of El Pueblo de Los Angeles.  Christopher T. Jones descendant of Christopher Layton of Company C and Philander Colton of Company B gave the history of the Mormon Battalion.  Whitney Clayton, Area Authority, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gave the benediction.  Immediately following, there was a Spanish program “Musica y Ballet Folklorico Extravaganza.”  At the Olvera Street Plaza there was entertainment. 

1998 we had Father Alberto Vasquez, Our Lady Queen of Angels give the invocation.  Joseph Leavitt sang a stirring rendition of “Mama, Look Sharp.”  Reverend George Cisneros La Plaza United Methodist Church gave the benediction.  In Olvera Street Plaza we had Magician Professor A.B. Rags, living history encampment at Father Serra Park, children craft activities, Hacienda Heights Community Choir, Mei-Hwei Chen, conductor, Xipe Totec Aztec Indian dancers, Yesteryears Dancers, Ballet Coco, and Lively Arts History Association.  Frank Turner conducted the 10-piece NY Volunteers band.  He is now the conductor of the Southern California Mormon Tabernacle Choir. 

1999 we held it on Monday the 5th and obtained the use of brand new Mercedes Benz convertibles courtesy of Downtown L.A. Motors for our parade dignitaries.  We asked Reverend Leonard Jackson, First AME Church to give the invocation.  Tom LaBonge, executive assistant to Los Angeles Mayor Riordan, made presentations. The Honorable Nick Pacheco, Councilmember 14th district was our grand marshall.  This was his 1st official duty, having been newly elected.   We had the All-City Honor Band of Alhambra, Reggie Cordero band director.  Father Alberto Vasquez, Our Lady Queen of Angels, gave the benediction.  Olvera Street Plaza entertainment included family craft activities organized by Pauline Cazares, living history military encampment at Father Serra Park, entertainment coordinated by Caroline Asencio, Abraham Lincoln portrayed by David Knight, Harriet Tubman portrayed by Ernestine Harbour of the First AME Church, National Guard Bugler S. F. C. Peter Aguilar, a tribute ceremony to Florencio Yescas by Daveed Castro, director, Xipe Totec, and the 1847 dance re-enactors. 

July 2000 our parade again moved from Main Street and Olvera Street Plaza to Hill Street along Cesar Chavez Avenue.  Presentations were given by Nick Pacheco, our grand marshall was Raul R. Rodriguez, premier designer, Tournament of Roses Parade.  The Schurr High School Band from Montebello under the direction of Leonard Narumi thrilled us all with the Star Spangled Banner.  Color guard was Boy Scout Troop 197 of Los Angeles, Saul Serpas, Troop Leader.  We added cannon fire to the living history encampment at Father Serra Park.  We had pre-hispanic music by Martin Espino as well as participation by the Lively Arts History Association, 1847 dance re-enactors, Abraham Lincoln portrayed by David Knight, and Xipe Totec.

2001 we opened our festivities with a 9:00 a.m. pancake breakfast fundraiser for the LAPD Explorer Scouts, officers Al Cadron and Meredith Swisher.  We had the 3rd United States Artillery Company F re-enactors Paul deNublio, commander.  This unit was stationed in Monterey, California, in 1847.  We also had the California Mexican War Associates under the direction of Jon Reed.  We also had publicists Dena Cortez and Pauline Cazares for Raul Rodriguez.  He rode in the parade with Christina Mariscal, Queen of Olvera Street.  Augusto Godoy, president of Olvera Street Merchants Association, rode with Maria Pacho, president of the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument Commission.  We also had the 24th Michigan Fife and Drum Corps and Color Guard from St. Joseph High School in Hawthorne, California. 

2002 we started the pancake breakfast at 8:00 a.m. for the LAPD Explorer fundraiser.  The parade started in front of City Hall and proceeded to the Hill Street monument with grand marshall Nick Pacheco and several Mormon Battalion re-enactors. Edward Navarro, newly appointed general manager of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, rode in the parade. Xipe Totec dancers entertained us, Olvera Street Merchants Association participated, and Los Pobladores 200 was represented. Ten Cub Scouts from Thousand Oaks and their den leaders marched in the parade and enjoyed the day at Olvera Street Museum and had lunch.  California Mexican War Associates were the color guard. 

Come and enjoy living history this year, the 4th of July 2003 at Fort Moore Pioneer Memorial, 451 North Hill Street, downtown Los Angeles.  Parade starts 9:00 a.m. with cannon fire echoing from Fort Moore Hill as the parade leaves Olvera Street Plaza, and Main Street, marching up Cesar Chavez Avenue  to Hill Street.  We’ll have re-enactors, bands, Aztec Indian dancers, and other amusements.  We feature the Fort Moore Garrison (a.k.a. Mormon Battalion) each year as our centerpiece ensemble re-enacting L.A.’s first 4th of July Celebration in style.  We will have living history in Father Junipero Serra Park, free helium balloons, family entertainment, family history search computers loaned from the public affairs department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, face painting, ethnic entertainment, and other entertainment all day long.

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Contact Us
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The Fort Moore Memorial Committee
Carol Autenrieth, Chairman
Fax - (310) 202-0533
Cell - (310) 864-9377
Email
 Carol Autenrieth

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