Along with families planning long weekends and barbecues, many Orange County communities are planning traditional observances for Memorial Day on Monday, May 29.
The national holiday honors those who died while serving our country in the .
Here are some of the ceremonies planned:
Anaheim: There will be speakers, a rifle volley salute, color guard and a presentation of wreaths at 11 a.m. at the Anaheim Cemetery, 1400 E. Sycamore St. The ceremony will be held in front of the community mausoleum. Information: 949-951-9102
Brea: Memory Garden Memorial Park & Mortuary will be adding 15 new flags dedicated to families who have lost a veteran in recent years. The flags join the approximately 1,250 American flags displayed each year for the community observance at the cemetery, 455 W. Central Ave., for Memorial Day. There will be an 11 a.m. service. The grave of each veteran in the park will be decorated with a white cross and miniature flag. The Avenue of the Flags was started in 1958 with six flags. Information: memorygarden.com
Buena Park: This 36th annual service honors men and women who have served our country as well as the families who have lost loved ones or have members serving. There will be a pancake breakfast from 8 to 9:30 a.m., the service will begin at 10. A picnic will follow. George Bellis Park, 7171 Eighth St.
Corona del Mar: There will be a remembrance service beginning at 11 a.m. at the Pacific View Memorial Park & Mortuary, 3500 Pacific View Drive.
Costa Mesa: In its 63rd year, this ceremony will honor the fallen at 11 a.m. at Harbor Lawn-Mt. Olive Memorial Park & Mortuary, 1625 Gisler Ave. Maj. Gen. William J. Mall, Jr., a retired pilot and first commander of the 23rd , will speak and the Orange Empire Chorus will perform. A flyover will open the ceremony. Information: 714-540-5554
Fountain Valley: The West Orange County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post and Auxiliary No. 9557, comprising posts from Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Westminster and Midway City, will host with the city a commemoration of all who died in defense and service of the country, at 10 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial, 17635 Los Alamos St. Information: fountainvalley.org
Fullerton: In its 79th year, the community’s Memorial Day observance starts at 10 a.m. at Loma Vista Memorial Park, 701 E. Bastanchury Road. In a tradition started in 1939, volunteers will place a cross and a flag at the graves of more than 4,100 veterans leading up to the ceremony, which will feature speakers and a special tribute. Information: 714-525-1575
Huntington Beach: A ceremony, hosted by the American Legion Post 133, will feature a rifle salute, a wreath presentation, speakers, performances by the Huntington Beach High band and the playing of “Taps” at Pier Plaza. Information: hbpost133.com
Irvine: The The city’s annual ceremony is 10 a.m. at Col. Bill Barber Corps Memorial Park, 4 Civic Center Plaza. Attendees will have the opportunity to write a brief remembrance to be posted on a memory board. Also, cards will be available for attendees to send a message to the city’s adopted 211/ Battalion. Information: 949-724-6606 or cityofirvine.org/specialevents
Laguna Beach: American Legion Post 222 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5868 will host a ceremony at 11 a.m. in Heisler Park, 375 Cliff Drive, to pay tribute to all personnel who have died in wars and conflicts. Information: lagunalegion.org
Laguna Hills: The city will host its 19th annual Memorial Day Half Marathon. The event includes the half marathon, a 5K run/walk, a 10K run and a kids run. The city is set to donate $3 per participant to Team Darkhorse, the city’s 3/5 Support Committee. The half marathon, 5K and 10K start in front of Saddleback Memorial Medical Center and finish at the Laguna Hills Community Center. The kids races start and finish at the Community Center. Registration opens at 5:30 a.m., and the first race is at 7 a.m. Information: lagunahillshalfmarathon.com
Lake Forest: The El Toro Memorial Park tribute will include Fred Whitaker sharing his recollections of being a rifleman in WWII as a member of the 87th Infantry Division, along with a wreath presentation, an honor guard and more beginning at 11 a.m. at 25751 Trabuco Road. Information: 949-951-8244 or occemeterydistrict.com
La Palma: The city will start its ceremony with a musical interlude at 9:15 a.m. at the Eternal Flame in front of the Civic Center, 7822 Walker St. Walker will be closed from Thelma Avenue to La Palma Avenue from 8:45 a.m. until about 11 a.m. The winning entry into the city’s student essay and poetry contest will be asked to read at the ceremony and the city has been collecting letters to send to the .
Mission Viejo: The community will commemorate Memorial Day at 8:30 a.m. at the Mission Viejo Civic Center, 200 Civic Center. Keynote speaker Corps Col. Andrew Bergen will discuss the importance of remembering those who died while serving in the . He will be joined by Vietnam veteran Frans VandenBroek, a Purple Heart recipient and local resident. The ceremony will include a color guard, a rifle salute and the playing of “Taps.” Information: 949-470-3061
San Clemente: At 11 a.m., an observance outside the Community Center at Avenida Del Mar and Calle Seville will feature guest speakers, a color guard dressed in 1776-style uniforms, patriotic music and a floral ceremony. The public is invited. Information: 949-361-8200
Also, a ceremony at 2 p.m. at Park Semper Fi, 106 W. Alameda Lane, overlooking the pier, will feature guest speaker Lt. Col. Warren Cook, commanding of the 2nd Battalion, 4th at Camp Pendleton and the Pete Jacobs Swing Band. The public is invited. Information: 949-498-4958
San Juan Capistrano: At 10 a.m. in Los Rios Park, 26436 Paseo Adelanto, a Memorial Day ceremony will salute personnel, veterans and first responders against a backdrop of some 250 American flags in a “Field of Honor” setting, featuring guest speakers and a color guard. The public is invited. Information: 949-248-9468
Santa Ana: The annual service at Fairhaven Memorial Park, themed “From Sea to Shining Sea” will include speakers, performances, a flyover and more from 10:30 a.m. to noon at 1702 E. Fairhaven Ave.. Information: 714-633-1442 or fairhavenmemorial.com
Also, the Tri-City Memorial Day Observance at 10 a.m. at the Santa Ana Cemetery, 1919 E. Santa Clara Ave., will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the United States’ entry into World War I and include a canon salute, guest speakers, performances and more. Information: 714-953-2959
Seal Beach: Memorial Day services will be held at 11 a.m. at the United States National Submarine Memorial West at the Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, 800 Seal Beach Blvd. The observance will include the “tolling the boats” ceremony, during which each of the 52 U.S. submarines lost during World War II is honored as a bell is tolled. Information: 562-626-7215
Also, VFW Post 4048 and the city present a ceremony at 11 a.m. at Eisenhower Park, north of the pier. The event includes the laying of a wreath, the playing of taps, a POW/MIA chair ceremony and patriotic songs performed by the Los Alamitos High FX Choir. The Young will post the flag. Information: 818-324-3746
Yorba Linda: The Nixon Presidential Library & Museum’s 11 a.m. ceremony includes a wreath laying; remarks by retired Col. Robert M. Kirila, former deputy commander of the 7th Special Forces Group; a presentation of the colors and a 21-gun salute; and a performance by the 3rd Aircraft Wing Band. At noon, there will be a concert by the Placentia Symphonic Band. Nixon Library is at 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda. Information: 714-993-5075
Also, at the Yorba Linda Veterans Memorial, the annual Memorial Day observance will be held at 2 p.m. The memorial is in Veterans Park, 4756 Valley View Ave.
Also, Avalon Bagels to Burgers will continue its tradition of offering a free meal to veterans and active duty on Memorial Day at its restaurants at 16961 W. Imperial Highway in Yorba Linda and 174 E. Yorba Linda Blvd. in Placentia.
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