- Title: USA: Michael Jackson fans mourn at cemetery
- Date: 26th June 2010
- Summary: GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JUNE 25, 2010) (REUTERS) FOREST LAWN MEMORIAL PARK WITH FANS WAITING OUTSIDE THE GATES VARIOUS OF FANS WAITING OUTSIDE CEMETERY (SOUNDBITE) (English) LINDA HIGGINS, MICHAEL JACKSON FAN, SAYING: "I've been a fan of Michael's my whole life pretty much, and we miss him dearly. And it was important for us to be here." (SOUNDBITE) (English) VELMA OWENS, MICHAEL JACKSON FAN, SAYING: "I've been a fan of Michael's all my life. And he meant so much to me as he did to all the fans around the world. And he had a very special message to give to everybody and he touched everybody's heart. And it's through love and his memory that I wanted to be here today." VARIOUS OF FANS AND MEDIA WALKING TOWARDS CEMETERY GATES FANS WALKING UP A HILL INSIDE THE CEMETERY
- Embargoed: 11th July 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
- Reuters ID: LVAER2H0WKIM4KJX6TPDA2ZD7VA1
- Story Text: Michael Jackson fans poured into Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California on Friday (June 25) to pay their respects to the late King of Pop.
Police began allowing fans to walk and drive into the cemetery shortly after 1500 (GMT). Many carried bouquets of flowers to drop outside of the mausoleum where Jackson's body is entombed. A few delivered colorful posters to the site.
Jackson may have died one year ago, but his memory is alive in the hearts of his most devoted followers.
"I've been a fan of Michael's my whole life pretty much and, we miss him dearly. And it was important for us to be here," said Linda Higgins who came to Glendale from Salt Lake City, Utah.
Another fan, Velma Owens flew into L.A. from Kentucky.
"I've been a fan of Michael's all my life. And he meant so much to me as he did to all the fans around the world. And he had a very special message to give to everybody and he touched everybody's heart. And it's through love and his memory that I wanted to be here today."
Outside the mausoleum where Jackson's body is housed, fans wept as they delivered their tokens of affection. They were not actually allowed inside the mausoleum, that was restricted for family and close friends.
For Jackson impersonator Carlo Riley, just getting on the cemetery grounds was enough.
"If you're ever negative or in a bad mood, and you put a Michael Jackson song on then it's done. It's like your drug; you're over it. And I'm so glad there's something here, someone who could have done that for me. I am just so happy to have been alive during that lifetime," says Riley.
Jackson family members were expected at the cemetery Friday, but his three children and mother, Katherine, were expected to honor him in his hometown of Gary, Indiana. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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