Orange County will remember its fallen heroes on Memorial Day with tributes planned in many of its communities.
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Here is a list of several of the ceremonies and events planned to honor the service members who have died; events are on Monday, May 25, unless otherwise indicated.
Anaheim: There will be a flag presentation, a wreath-laying ceremony and speakers at 11 a.m. at the Anaheim Cemetery, 1400 E. Sycamore St. The ceremony, coordinated by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3173 and the American Legion Post 72, will be held in front of the community mausoleum. Arrive early or bring a lawn chair. Information: occemeterydistrict.com
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 also be decorated with a white cross and a miniature flag starting on Saturday. The Avenue of the Flags, open from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., was started in 1958 with six flags. Information: memorygarden.com
Buena Park: This annual event – now in its 45th year – honors men and women who sacrificed for our country, as well as the families who have lost loved ones. There will be a service beginning at 10 a.m. at the Ehlers Event Center, 8150 Knott Ave. There will be a wreath laying, speakers and patriotic performances. Information: buenapark.com
Corona del Mar: There will be a remembrance service beginning at 11 a.m. at the Pacific View Memorial Park & Mortuary that is open to the community. The cemetery is at 3500 Pacific View Drive.
Costa Mesa: This ceremony, now in its 72nd year, will honor the fallen at 11 a.m. at Harbor Lawn-Mt. Olive Memorial Park & Mortuary, 1625 Gisler Ave., and is set to include a missing man flyover, as well as a WWII transport flyover, speakers, musical presentations and a wreath laying ceremony.
Cypress: The 10 a.m. remembrance at Forest Lawn-Cypress, 4471 Lincoln Ave., will feature a ceremony paying tribute with a wreath laying ceremony, patriotic music, speakers and more. The event will be family friendly with arts and crafts. 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. There will be an Empty Boots ceremony and the placing of flowers on the memorial. Information: danapoint.org
Fountain Valley: The city, Fountain Valley Community Foundation and the West Orange County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post and Auxiliary No. 9557 will host a flag raising ceremony at 10 a.m. at Veterans Park, 17635 Los Alamos St. Information: FountainValley.gov
Fullerton: 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 thousands of veterans leading up to the ceremony, which will also commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary. Volunteers are needed to place the more than 4,400 flags. Information: avmafullerton.org
Huntington Beach: The community’s 121st Memorial Day ceremony will be held at 11 a.m., offering various tributes to those who died in service. It will be held at Pier Plaza in partnership with American Legion Post 133. Information: huntingtonbeachca.gov
Irvine: The city’s annual ceremony is 10 a.m. at Col. Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park, 4 Civic Center Plaza. A commanding officer from Irvine’s adopted 2/11 Marine Battalion will speak. Write a card to be sent to the city’s adopted 211/Marine Battalion. Information: cityofirvine.org/specialevents
Also, on Sunday, May 24, there will be a candle lighting ceremony held at 4 p.m. at the Northwood Gratitude and Honor Memorial at Northwood Community Park. Lawn chairs or blankets for sitting are encouraged. The park is at 4531 Bryan Ave.
Laguna Beach: A community ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. in Heisler Park, 375 Cliff Drive, to pay tribute to all military personnel who have died in wars and conflicts. There will be patriotic music, speakers and a wreath presentation. Also a pancake breakfast by the local firefighters starts at 7 a.m.
Laguna Hills: The city will host its 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 $10,000 in race proceeds to Team Darkhorse, the city’s 3/5 Marine Support Committee. Information: lagunahillshalfmarathon.com
Lake Forest: The El Toro Memorial Park tribute will include keynote speaker Greg Munck, a combat-promoted Marine who served in the Gulf War, along with a color guard flag ceremony, a wreath presentation, musical performances and a gun salute, beginning at 11 a.m. The park is at 25751 Trabuco Road. Information: occemeterydistrict.com.
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Laguna Niguel: At noon, a ceremony that includes a color guard, dignitaries, guest speaker and the placing of a wreath will be held at the Sea Country Senior and Community Center, 24602 Aliso Creek Road. Doors open at 11:30 a.m.
La Palma: The city will host its annual ceremony starting at 9 a.m. The 40-year tradition invites residents to “join in this collective moment of reflection to pay tribute to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who have sacrificed their lives in defense of liberty” by gathering at the Eternal Flame at the Civic Center, 7822 Walker St. Information: lapalmaca.gov
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 speaker Col. Charles “Clay” Readinger, Commanding Officer of Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, and a tribute to Megan McClung, a Mission Viejo resident who died 20 years ago in service to the U.S. There will be an honor guard and musical performances. Tribute banners honoring those who lost their lives in service will be displayed and remain up through May 31. Information: cityofmissionviejo.org
Newport Beach: The 17th annual Field of Honor will go on display at Castaways Park, 700 Dover Drive, starting May 15. To honor those who have served, there are 1,776 large American flags flying in the park. The display is up through Memorial Day, when there will be a noontime Memorial Day ceremony, including keynote speaker retired US Navy Capt. Thomas David Weaver. Information: exchangeclubofnewportharbor.org
San Clemente: At 11 a.m., an observance will be held at the San Clemente Community Center lawn, 100 N. Calle Seville. The city has been gathering the names of those who died in the last year to honor and there will be a presentation of wreaths. The public is invited. Information: san-clemente.org
Also, a ceremony at 2 p.m. at the Marine Monument at Park Semper Fi, 106 W. Alameda Lane, overlooking the pier, will feature Lt. Gen. Christian F. Wortman, commanding general I Marine Expeditionary Force, various honors and musical presentations. Information: marinemonument.com
San Juan Capistrano: The Mission San Juan Capistrano and the nonprofit Homefront America are presenting the Field of Honor, with nearly 500 of the 7-foot-tall, community-sponsored flags on display to honor active military, veterans and first responders. The flags will be up from May 19 through Memorial Day. The mission will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Memorial Day. Information: missionsjc.com/field-of-honor
Also, the city and American Legion Post 721 will host an 11 a.m. Memorial Day ceremony at Veterans Park, 31872 Camino Capistrano.
Santa Ana: The annual service at Fairhaven Memorial Park will begin at 10:30 a.m. and will feature flags placed at the burial sites of veterans in the cemetery. The cemetery is at 1702 E. Fairhaven Ave. Information: fairhavenmemorial.com
Also, the observance at 10 a.m. at the Santa Ana Cemetery, 1919 E. Santa Clara Ave., will include a parade of flags, wreath presentations, cannon salutes by Cooper’s Battery and more. A Gen. George Washington reenactor will provide the keynote address. Information: occemeterydistrict.com
Seal Beach: The Seal Beach Lions Club will host a community ceremony at 12 p.m. at Eisenhower Park, north of the pier.
Tustin: The city will host a 9 a.m. remembrance event at the Veterans Monument at Veterans Sports Park, 1645 Valencia Ave. There will be speeches, the reading of the names of Tustin residents who have died in action or are MIA and a 21-gun salute. The new Veterans Pavers will also be unveiled. Information: tustinca.org
Westminster: Westminster Memorial Park, 14801 Beach Blvd., will hold a Memorial Day service starting at 10 a.m. with tributes, including a missing man flyover. There will also be family friendly activities.
Yorba Linda: At the Yorba Linda Veterans Memorial, the annual Memorial Day observance will be held at 2 p.m. The afternoon will feature speakers, including a keynote address by former US Army Corporal Norio Uyematsu, a 95-year-old Korean War veteran, a color guard and musical performances. A traditional Gold Star roll call will be conducted. The memorial is in Veterans Park, 4756 Valley View Ave. Information: yorbalindaveteransmemorial.com
Also, the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum will commemorate Memorial Day with a formal presentation of colors and remarks starting at 10:30 a.m. The Huntington Beach Concert Band will perform at 11 a.m. in the library’s replica of the White House East Room. The library is at 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd. Information: nixonfoundation.org
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