Jackson's Hometown Holds a Memorial for Pop Icon

Later, 500 dancers dressed like zombies recreated the "Thriller" video, with one man taking Jackson's role and leading them.

Peter Mata Jr. 8, of Streator, Ill., waits in line to get into the Steel Yard Stadium to attend a memorial service for pop star Michael Jackson in Gary, Ind., Friday, July 10, 2009. (AP Photo/John Smierciak)

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One video montage included a speech Jackson gave in 2003 when he visited the city for the only time after his family left in 1969, when he was 11. He finished by saying: "Gary, you are family, you always will be, I love."

People who knew Jackson when his family lived in Gary spoke about what a thoughtful young man he was and recounted how the Jackson 5 once performed at Garnett Elementary School, charging students 10 cents apiece.

Some of the biggest applause came before the memorial started, when Jackson's hits were playing and young children and teenagers went out to the dugout and mimicked his moves.

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Many in the crowd left about 2 1/2 hours into the show, after performers sang "We are the World," although the event continued for an additional 40 minutes, including an uncomfortable 25 minutes of the master of ceremonies killing time while waiting for the final singer to arrive.

The Jacksons moved from Gary, located 30 miles southeast of Chicago, after the Jackson 5 recorded their first album. Streams of fans have visited the Jacksons' former home since the pop star's death last month.

Peter Mata, 33, a bill collector from Streator, Ill., was first in line at the ballpark before Friday's memorial celebration. He drove 100 miles with his 14-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son and arrived on Thursday night.

"I just had to come. It's Michael Jackson," he said.

Other fans said they had tried unsuccessfully to get tickets to Tuesday's service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

"I figured I'd do the next best thing and pay my respects here in Gary," said Greg Packer of Hungtington, N.Y., a 45-year-old retired highway maintenance worker. "I wanted to experience this live with other Michael Jackson fans."

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