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​To all our veterans,
THANK YOU, for your service!
 
Memorial Day is a special day for all Americans to remember and pay tribute to the men and women in our armed forces who gave their lives in service to our country. Since Monrovia was founded as a city 137 years ago, many Monrovians responded to the call of duty, and many paid the ultimate sacrifice. And so Memorial Day is a fitting tribute to them and to those who returned home to help pick up the pieces and work together as a community, to make this country, this town, this city, a better place to live -- the beautiful and picturesque Gem of the Foothills community we all enjoy and love!
 
On Memorial Day, many activities, parades, and events are held around the country to celebrate, honor and thank our veterans and heroes. In Monrovia, there will be the annual Memorial Day Ceremony, held at 10:00 am at the Live Oak Cemetery. At the Monrovia Library Park, you will find markers dedicated to the memory of those Monrovians who sacrificed their lives in the First and Second World Wars, as well as the Korean and Vietnam Wars. The images of old newspaper clippings* shown here are just a few examples of how we, as a community, have honored and celebrated our own heroes through the years.

​The Monrovia Historical Museum announces the addition of Ms. Ili Lobaco as our newest board member. Ili had served on the museum board from 2016 through 2021, but continued on as a temporary volunteer on an as-needed basis. This month, the museum board invited her back and we are thrilled to have her! Welcome back, Ili.

Ili has a long history with the City of Monrovia, where she lived and attended Monrovia schools from 1964 to 1975. She has fond memories of swimming at The Plunge, which has been the museum’s home since 1992.  For fifteen years, Ili worked for the City of Monrovia as a city planner and oversaw the historic preservation program, among other planning duties. She retired from the City of Monrovia in 2015, but returned to her roots in city planning when she joined the City of Monterey Park in 2021 on a part time basis. In December 2023, Ili retired again to “have more time to assist the museum,” she says. With her previous affiliation and affinity for our city, it was only fitting to ask her to rejoin the board!

Ili and her husband, Scott, are Glendora residents, but in her heart, Ili is a bonafide Monrovian!