Patriotic ceremonies are planned on Memorial Day throughout Orange County to honor those who have given their lives while serving our country.
Veterans and current serving military members will also be thanked. Here are some of the events planned (events listed are on Memorial Day, May 27, unless otherwise indicated):
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: More than 1,100 American flags are displayed each year in an Avenue of the Flags at Memory Garden Memorial Park & Mortuary, 455 W. Central Ave. The grave of each veteran in the park will be also decorated with a white cross and miniature flag. The Avenue of the Flags, open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., was started in 1958 with six flags. A service will be held at 11 a.m. Information: memorygarden.com
Buena Park: This 38th annual commemoration 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. Information: buenapark.com
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 65th year, this ceremony will honor the fallen at 11 a.m. at Harbor Lawn-Mt. Olive Memorial Park & Mortuary, 1625 Gisler Ave. Brigadier General Ryan P. Heritage, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Western Recruiting Region, will speak and the Third Marine Aircraft Wing Band and the Orange Empire Chorus will perform. A flyover will open the ceremony and there will be military vehicles on display and a wreath laying. Free refreshments. Information: 714-540-5554
Cypress: The 10 a.m. remembrance at Forest Lawn-Cypress, 4471 Lincoln Ave., will feature a keynote speaker and a patriotic performance by the Western High band. The free public program also plans a rifle salute, wreath laying and more. Information: ForestLawn.com
Dana Point: VFW Post 9934 and the city will host a ceremony at 10 a.m. in Pines Park, 34941 Camino Capistrano. Recognition will be given to veterans who have served our country, or supported our active duty personnel and veterans. A “Boots and Rifle” ceremony will be conducted by Post officers and the bugle call will be played.
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 at 10 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial, 17635 Los Alamos St. A pancake fundraiser from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. at Heritage Park will raise money for the FVCF Honored Heroes Banner Program. Information: fountainvalley.org
Fullerton: In its 81st 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 4,200 veterans leading up to the ceremony, which will feature speaker Army Major Gen. Eugene Leboeuf, 79th Theater Sustainment Command as well as patriotic music, recognition of a veteran from each century and POWs and more. Information: avmafullerton.org
Huntington Beach: An 11 a.m. ceremony, hosted by the city along with 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: 714-536-3855
Irvine: The city’s annual ceremony is 10 a.m. at Col. Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park, 4 Civic Center Plaza. Write a brief remembrance to be posted on a memory board or write a card to be sent to the city’s adopted 211/Marine Battalion. Information: 949-724-6606 or cityofirvine.org/specialevents
Also, on Sunday, May 26, there will be a candle-lighting ceremony held at 4 p.m. at the Northwood Gratitude and Honor Memorial at Northwood Community Park. There will be a presentation by Gold Star families. The park is at 4531 Bryan Ave.
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 military personnel who have died in wars and conflicts. Information: lagunalegion.org
Laguna Hills: The city will host its 21st annual Memorial Day Half Marathon. The event includes the half marathon, a 5K run/walk, a 10K run and a kids run. The city will donate $3 per participant to Team Darkhorse, the city’s 3/5 Marine Support Committee. Participants are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to contribute to the South County Outreach Food Drive. 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 a keynote speech by Greg Raths, a retired U.S. Marine colonel and Mission Viejo mayor, along with a color guard flag ceremony, a wreath presentation and a gun salute, beginning at 11 a.m. at 25751 Trabuco Road. Information: 949-951-8244 or occemeterydistrict.com.
Laguna Niguel: At noon, Sea Country Senior and Community Center will hold a ceremony that includes a color guard, dignitaries, veteran’s speech and placing of the wreath at memorial plaque outside the center, located at 24602 Aliso Creek Road.
La Palma: The city’s ceremony will feature music performed by Kennedy High and Walker Junior High bands and recognition of those who’ve served. Veterans and current service members may reserve a special seat by calling the Community Service at 714-690-3350. Event starts at 9 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.
Mission Viejo: The community observance will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Kershaw Garden at Mission Viejo Civic Center, 200 Civic Center. The ceremony will include guest speakers and patriotic songs followed by a reception with light refreshments. Information: 949-470-3061
Newport Beach: For the 10th year, the Field of Honor is on display at Castaways Park, 700 Dover Drive. To honor those who have served, there are 1,776 large American flags flying in the park. They were installed on May 17. There will be a ceremony at noon. Information: nhexchange.net
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, presentation of wreaths, a floral ceremony, bagpipes and buglers. Keynote speake
r will be Sgt. Maj. Mario Fields, USMC. The public is invited. Information: 949-361-8200.
Also, a ceremony at 2 p.m. at the Marine Monument at Park Semper Fi, 106 W. Alameda Lane, overlooking the pier, will feature guest speakers and music. The public is invited. Information: 949-498-4958
Santa Ana: The annual service at Fairhaven Memorial Park will include patriotic speakers, musical entertainment, a flyover, a white dove release 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 include speakers, a parade of flags, cannon and honor rifle salutes, wreath presentations and more. The ceremony will be at the Soldiers’ Monument To the Unknown Dead of the Civil War, a community tradition since 1881. 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 keynote address will be given by Cmdr. Corey Poorman, commanding officer of the attack submarine USS Pasadena. 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. The event is free, and no reservations are required. Information: 562-626-7215
Westminster: Westminster Memorial Park, 14801 Beach Blvd., will hold its 47th annual Memorial Day Service, which starts at 10:15 a.m. with music and entertainment. The service will begin at 11 a.m. and will be followed by refre
shments. A memorial wreath will be dedicated, white doves will be released and the Westminster High School Marching Band, the HOPE Music Program and vocalists will perform patriotic music. Information: 714-893-2421
Yorba Linda: The Nixon Presidential Library & Museum’s events begin at 10 a.m. with a wreath laying. At 11 a.m. there will be a panel featuring the wives of prisoners of war during Vietnam War. At 2 p.m. the Placentia Symphonic Band will perform a patriotic concert. The library is at 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd. The events are free to the public, but museum admission is needed for touring galleries and exhibits. 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.