A GRATEFUL SOUTHLAND; LOCAL TRIBUTES HONOR VETERANS WHO GAVE LIVES.

Byline: Donna Huffaker Daily News Staff Writer

All morning, the tears had been threatening.

Although Dortha Ball has honored her brother every Memorial Day since his plane was shot down over the Kurile Islands in 1945, Monday marked the first holiday where she had a place to lay her flowers.

Capt. Raymond Livingston's name, along with fellow World War II soldier Staff Sgt. Floyd C. Jenewein and Korean War veteran Sgt. Richard Jerry Roberts, have been etched into the black granite monuments outside Glendale City Hall. Their names were added last week to the memorials, which pay tribute to the hundreds of Glendale residents who lost their lives defending their country.

``It's been so hard, because his name belongs somewhere. And now we finally have that and we can come and remember him properly,'' Ball said of her brother, as the tears finally fell.

City officials recognized the three men during an early morning Memorial Day ceremony in Glendale. Ceremonies also were held in Burbank, La Canada Flintridge and other parts of the Southland.

One National Guardsman was but a few words into his a cappella performance of the National Anthem in Glendale when tears started to stream down the veterans' faces. Wearing uniform jackets draped with medals and ribbons, the World War II veterans saluted the rising flag, many with shaking hands.

As the 40th Infantry Division Band played a medley of patriotic songs including ``Anchors Away,'' Otto Tronowsky sprang to his feet, despite the seated crowd.

The spry, 84-year-old retired Navy captain spent 32 years in the U.S. military. And although he emigrated from Germany in 1916, the Glendale resident fought his own country. Tronowsky considers the day he bombed his hometown of Kiel one of the best days of his life.

``They were wrong. Hitler was off his rocker,'' he said. ``If it wasn't for the Allied efforts, we'd all be speaking German now.''

Ball described the torment her family endured, including the timing of her 26-year-old brother's death.

Livingston had completed his service and returned to Glendale. But he went back for a second tour of duty to help inexperienced pilots. On his 11th mission, Japanese artillery clipped his B-25 plane. The plane spiraled into the sea and nothing was recovered.

It was July 12, 1945 - two days after the war had ended.

In Burbank, combat uniforms from World Wars I and II and the Vietnam War were on display at Cambridge Park while city officials and legislators spoke to the crowd of 250 people.

U.S. Rep. Jim Rogan, D-Glendale, encouraged the men and women to explain to children the importance of war veterans and military personnel. To help his own children understand, Rogan defined soldiers as ``people who are willing to go to a bad place and die for us even though they don't know our names.''

After that, the next time his daughters saw someone in a military uniform they saluted him, Rogan said.

A Memorial Day tradition in Burbank is to open the microphone to anyone who wishes to honor and remember someone in the military.

Testimonials included a little boy commemorating his two grandparents - one American, one German - who were on opposing sides at the Battle of the Bulge, and a woman praying for her son who is stationed in the Balkans.

Peter Andrew Eirich shipped out for Kosovo in February, said Joan Eirich, a Burbank resident.

Glendale Mayor Ginger Bremberg read President Clinton's Memorial Day proclamation at ceremonies at Forest Lawn Memorial-Park, Hollywood Hills.

At the 72nd annual Memorial Day commemoration at Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park in North Hollywood, four high school juniors proved they were not too young to appreciate the sacrifices made in their country's behalf.

The service in North Hollywood included a flyover by the Condor Squadron of pre-World War II aircraft, a rifle salute, the lowering of the American flag to half-staff, the playing of taps and release of dozens of white doves.

Addressing the audience of about 700 veterans and their families, four students from Polytechnic High School in Sun Valley gave a new generation's thoughts on Memorial Day.

Morning ceremonies at Los Angeles National Cemetery in Westwood included a tribute to women veterans and addresses by Gov. Gray Davis and retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Wilma Vaught, one of the nation's most-decorated military women.

Cardinal Roger Mahony joined 600 worshippers at Assumption Cemetery in Simi Valley in asking God for a more peaceful new millennium and paying homage to fallen veterans.

``It is a time to remember these men and women who fought for our liberties around the world. We pray their sacrifice has not been in vain,'' Mahony said.

CAPTION(S):

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PHOTO (1-2) Scoutmaster Walter Salvari, above, leads Boy Scout Troop 58 in Memorial Day ceremonies at Forest Lawn on Monday. At left, WWII veterans salute and sing the national anthem.

Tina Gerson/Daily News

(3) LIVINGSTON