Mujeras de la Tierra, MRCA to Honor Fallen Park Rangers at Dia de los Muertos Procession and Altar
October 30, 2018
Media Advisory for Thursday, November 1, 2018 6-8 pm
Día de Los Muertos Procession and Altar Honor Park Rangers Killed in the Line of Duty around the World
Uniformed Park Rangers with their faces painted in the traditional style and spectacular lighted Demonio de la Basura to lead hundreds in a dazzling procession through the streets of Cypress Park to the Los Angeles River Center
What:
More than 300 community advocates, park rangers, environmentalists, international, federal, state and local leaders and school children will unite on November 1 to honor—through a Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) street procession and altar—The lives of those who have died in the line of duty while protecting and defending the environment and natural world.
One of the most spectacular and meaningful annual Dia de los Muertos celebrations in Los Angeles, the procession and ribbon cutting will include stunning art figurines, feathered Aztec dancers, traditional music, marigolds, entertainment, and wild beauty.
A community celebration will follow the ceremony.
The events are being organized by Mujeres de la Tierra, a non-profit environmental group based in L.A.
When:
Thursday, November 1, 2018
6:00 PM Procession begins – Cypress Park Library
7:15 PM Ribbon Cutting Ceremony – Los Angeles River Center & Gardens
Where:
6:00 p.m. Procession begins: Cypress Park Library, 1150 Cypress Avenue, LA
7:15 p.m. Procession ends and Ribbon Cutting: Los Angeles River Center & Gardens 570 West Avenue 26, Los Angeles
Who:
- Irma Muñoz, President/Founder, Mujeres de la Tierra
- David Szymanski, Superintendent, National Park Service Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
- Craig Sap, Superintendent, Angeles Region, State Parks—sworn Park Ranger and Chair of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
- Fernando Gomez, Chief Ranger, Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority
- Senior Ranger Jewel Johnson, Secretary, International Ranger Federation
- Mark Stanley, Executive Director, San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountain Conservancy
- David McNeill, Executive Director, Baldwin Hills Conservanc
Esperanza, the iconic 12-foot Calavera
Visuals:
PROCESSION: The half-mile street procession includes the fabulous Demonia de la Basura—a 10-foot high, lighted skeletal figure made from recycled water bottles—Aztec dancers, burning sage, and marchers with wooden skulls. Park Rangers will march in uniform and have their faces vividly painted in accordance with the Dia de los Muertos tradition.
ALTAR: Enormous traditional Day of the Dead altar, dedicated to the more than 850 Park Rangers who have died in the line of duty since 2009.
The procession and ceremony are being organized by Mujeres de la Tierra (Women of the Earth), a non-profit environmental organization based in Los Angeles.
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