Thousands Attend Michael Jackson's Indiana Memorial

Celebrity News July 11, 2009 AT 12:19PM
Michael Jackson performs in L.A. Jan. 2009 ; Mourners at Jackson's Indiana memorial, July 2009. Credit: Steve Graniz / Wire Image ; Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images

More than 6,000 people attended the upbeat memorial for Michael Jackson in his hometown of Gary, Indiana, on Friday, the Associated Press reports.

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The public event included performers singing and dancing his hit songs -- a group of 500 dancers dressed as zombies recreated the hit "Thriller" video -- as well as comments from Jesse Jackson and the city's mayor, Rudy Clay, the mayor's office confirmed to Usmagazine.com.

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"He's going to put on those golden slippers and he's going to dance all over God's heaven," Clay said. The memorial began at 6 p.m., and lasted more than three hours. It was held in the town's minor league baseball park. Organizers said more than 30 members of Jackson's family attended the event, including his father, Joe Jackson.

See 32 photos from Michael Jackson's memorial

Jackson lived in Gary until he was 11 years old. The family moved in 1969 when Jackson 5 became famous.

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  • November 03, 2009 - 9:37pm shelly

    I went to the memorial ther and it was such a nice thing for peoplr to see that other peoplr loved him and not just you. If you get a chance you sould look at som pictures of the house. There were so many stuffed anamials, card pictures,and much more. It was great fun for my family and me.

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