- Title: USA: Michael Jackson fans mourn at cemetery
- Date: 26th June 2010
- Summary: GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JUNE 25, 2010) (REUTERS) MICHAEL JACKSON IMPERSONATOR CARLO RILEY (SOUNDBITE) (English) CARLO RILEY, MICHAEL JACKSON FAN AND IMPERSONATOR SAYING: "Michael Jackson is literally a supernatural phenomenon. Everyone in the world recognizes how amazingly talented and gifted he is. He's a gift from God. I'm so pleased to have lived in his lifetime. Where new music was available. I was able to see him transition and progress as an artist. I was lucky enough to meet him, March 2007 in Tokyo. It's totally surreal because hundreds of years from now people will be just as big as fans as they are now. But he's extremely untouchable at that point because he's no longer around. I am glad to have shared the earth with him at one point." CARLO RILEY DEMONSTRATES SOME MICHAEL JACKSON DANCE MOVES (SOUNDBITE) (English) CARLO RILEY, MICHAEL JACKSON FAN AND IMPERSONATOR SAYING: "I would say 'Thank you Michael for saving my life. As well as millions of others.' I mean, 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."
- Embargoed: 11th July 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
- Reuters ID: LVACVHJIAFM9D30KVQHRZKOWKD0Y
- 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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