Michael Jackson Hometown of Gary, Indiana, Holds Memorial Service

The small Midwest town of Gary, Indiana, hometown to the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, is planning a memorial service.

The service is planned for Friday evening, July 10, at the US Steelyard baseball stadium.

Similar to that of the Los Angeles celebration, organizers have planned for guest speakers as well as special appearances by entertainers and close friends/family. The Gary Mayor, Rudy Clay, announced Michael Jackson father Joe Jackson and civil rights activists, reverends Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson would be among the attendees.

The event is scheduled to begin at 6 pm with admission being free and on a first come, first serve basis. Because seating is limited (the stadium is said to hold about 6 000 people), organizers are planning to open the doors on or around 4 pm.

Scores of fans have also been gathering at 2300 Jackson Street in Gary, the former home of the Jacksons. The small lawn continues to be filled with signs, stuffed animals, flowers and other sentiments from adoring fans.

At the time of his death, and for the majority of his life, Michael Jackson considered Hollywood and the greater Los Angeles area home. Nonetheless, before their rise to stardom, the Jackson family made their home in Gary.

After the King of Pop died on June 25, many in the Gary area have expressed their hope that Jackson's body be returned to his hometown for burial.

But the family is most likely to bury Jackson in California, at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood Hills, and his body would not return to Gary even temporarily.