MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS SLATED
Ceremonies will be held in communities across San Diego County to honor service members who died in wars
Memorial Day ceremonies are slated across San Diego County on Monday. Here are some events to remember and honor service members who died for the country:
CORONADO
A Memorial Day tribute starts at 10 a.m. Monday at Star Park, 1030 Park Place. There will be a presentation of colors, keynote speakers, taps and singing of the national anthem. Representatives and veterans from all branches of the military are slated to attend. Coronado Veterans of Foreign Wars (Post 2422) hosts this event annually. There is also a Memorial Wall at VFW Post 2422 at 557 Orange Ave., where families can honor their veterans on bronze plaques. (619) 435-6917
CHULA VISTA
Community members can observe Memorial Day by visiting the city’s Memorial Park, 373 Park Way, and viewing the monument inscribed with the names of Chula Vista residents who have died in combat; or by visiting Veterans Park, 785 E. Palomar St., which includes a prominent “Walk of Honor” walkway paved with bricks inscribed with the names of veterans. chulavistaca.gov
DEL MAR
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church will hold its annual community Memorial Day service remembering fallen service members at 11 a.m. Monday at 334 14th St. This year’s speaker will be the Rev. Michael Kilpatrick, Army (retired). The service of hymns and prayer will be followed by a Memorial Roll Call of members of the armed services who died in active duty. The service concludes with the playing of taps. Email names and ranks of deceased military members and branch of service by Wednesday to katbhunt@gmail.com or call (858) 7551616. stpetersdelmar.net
EL CAJON
The El Cajon Elks Lodge 1812 holds a Memorial Day Barbecue and Band event from noon to 4 p.m. Monday at the lodge, 1400 E. Washington Ave. bit.ly/3pVaw14
ESCONDIDO
A ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. Monday at Oak Hill Memorial Park, 2640 Glenridge Road. Highlights include posting of colors, singing of the national anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Boy Scout
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troops and Girl Scout troops, a bugler and a speaker along with recognition of fallen service members buried at the cemetery. A barbecue follows at 12:30 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Building/American Legion Post 149 at 230 E. Park Ave. (760) 745-1159
FALLBROOK
A Memorial Day ceremony will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Masonic Cemetery, 1177 Santa Margarita Drive, followed by lunch at noon at Fallbrook Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1924 at 1175 Old Stage Road. fallbrookvfw.org
JULIAN
Memorial observance from 11 a.m. to noon Monday at Julian Pioneer Cemetery, A Street at Farmer Road, weather permitting. A potluck will follow at American Legion Post 468 at 2503 Washington St. (760) 7650126.
NATIONAL CITY
A Memorial Day ceremony will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday at La Vista Memorial Park & Mortuary, 3191 Orange St. nationalcityca.gov
OCEANSIDE
The Veterans Association of North County hosts a Memorial Day ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday in the VANC Resource Center, 1617 Mission Ave. The guest speaker is Col. Daniel M. Whitley, assistant chief of staff, Government and External Affairs, Marine Corps Installations West - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Lunch will be served after the program. RSVP required at vanc.me/ memorial-day-ceremony or (760) 722-1277.
Eternal Hills Memorial Park holds its annual Memorial Day remembrance at 11 a.m. Monday at Eternal Hills, 1999 El Camino Real. The ceremony includes a commemorative bell toll to honor fallen heroes. The program will close with a benediction followed by a white dove release. A free lunch will be offered. (760) 754-6600
The Mission San Luis Rey Parish will hold Memorial Day Masses at 8 a.m. Monday in the parish chapel and at noon in the Historic Mission Church, 4050 Mission Ave. All are welcome. sanluisreyparish.org; (760) 757-3250
Members of the Oceanside-based Santa Margarita Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, ask the community to take time at 3 p.m. Monday to participate in a national moment of remembrance. santamargarita.californiadar.org
Bugles Across America is partnering with Stater Bros. Markets to host a bugler to play a live rendition of taps after a moment of silence at 3 p.m. at some Stater Bros. locations, paying tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice serving the country. North County locations include 3770 Mission Ave. in Oceanside and 1048 N. El Camino Real in Encinitas.
RAMONA
VFW Post 3783 will hold a ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday at Nuevo Memory Gardens, 532 Ash St. (760) 789-7888
RANCHO BERNARDO
A Memorial Day ceremony at the Rancho Bernardo Veterans Memorial begins at 10:45 a.m. Monday at Webb Park, 11666 Avena Place. Participants include members of the Major Abraham J. Baum VFW Post 7766; members of the Brigadier Gen. J.P. Holland Chapter, Military Order of World Wars; Scouts from BSA Troop 685; the Rancho Bernardo High School Madrigals Choir; Westview High School NJROTC; and trumpet soloist Oliver Jones. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. rbvma.org
The Rancho Bernardo Historical Society hosts its 16th annual Pancake Festival honoring the military from 8 to 11 a.m. Monday at Webb Park with live music, a circus demonstration team and face painting. A raffle will be held adjacent to the Veterans Memorial, thanks to Los Rancheros Kiwanis Club. Cost is $10; free for veterans, active military and children younger than 3. rbhistory.org
SAN DIEGO
The Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial will honor the nation’s heroes in a live and online tribute event from 11 a.m. to noon Monday. It will be streamed live from Mount Soledad, 6905 La Jolla Scenic Drive S., La Jolla, at memorialdaylive.com. The event will honor in particular Walter “Uncle Bert” Mintus, an MIA service member from World War II brought home in 2018. Project Recover located Mintus’ Avenger in Palau in 2016. Project Recover co-founder and founder of The Bent Prop Project, Dr. Patrick Scannon, will be a guest speaker. The keynote speaker will be Vice Adm. Kenneth Whitesell, Naval Air Force commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Highlights will include musical performances by Marine Band San Diego, a wreath laying and a missing-man flyover. soledadmemorial.org
The Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation will host a Memorial Day Ceremony at 1 p.m. Sunday at Miramar National Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Drive, in the cemetery’s Flag Assembly Area. The theme is commemorating 50 years of women in naval aviation. The keynote speaker is Capt. Tamara Graham, a combat helicopter pilot with over 30 years of military service. The guest speaker is Joshua Prado, San Diego Veteran of the Year 2022. miramarcemetery.org
As part of the USS Midway Museum’s annual Legacy Week lineup, there will be patriotic music by the ensemble of U.S. Coast Guard Arizona Band at 11:45 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. Monday (included in regular museum admission).
• Meet former military aviators and planes they flew from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
• Memorial Day wreath ceremony is at 9 a.m. Monday in remembrance of service members who died in the line of service. The event will include guest speakers, a flyover and ceremonial tossing of a memorial wreath over the ship in honor of the fallen.
• Patriotic entertainment will start at 12:30 p.m. Monday with Bonita Vista High School’s internationally known show choir, Music Machine, performing on the flight deck (included in regular museum admission).
• A Moment of Remembrance will be observed with a moment of silence at 3 p.m. Monday on the flight deck to honor those who have fallen while serving in the U.S. military.
• A remembrance wall and temporary exhibit with photos will be displayed through Monday in the Hangar Bay honoring military members. midway.org/ exhibits-activities/specialdays/legacy-week
A Memorial Day celebration of the 10th anniversary of the unveiling of the monument honoring veterans will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Logan Heights Veterans Memorial Monument in the 1900 block of Logan Avenue across from Chicano Park. The program includes taps, raising of the flag, the national anthem, prayers, speakers and the reading of names of past veterans. The master of ceremonies is Tony Millan with the San Diego Veterans Honor Color Guard. Among the guest speakers is retired Army Sgt. First Class Livier Lazaro, who served as a medic in the Iraq War, and is the commander of Don Diego VFW Post 7420. Barrio resident and Assemblymember David Alvarez will be honoring fallen veterans.
The nonprofit San Diego Veterans For Peace will set up its “Hometown Arlington West Memorial,” on display from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday on the front lawn of the USS Midway Museum, 910 N. Harbor Drive. Chapter veterans from five branches of services will honor several hundred comrades from Southern California who have died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. There will be memorial markers and the public is asked to stop by, read their names and reflect on their sacrifice. sdvfp.org
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery hosts a Memorial Day service and Day of Remembrance
at 10 a.m. Monday at the cemetery, 1700 Cabrillo Memorial Drive. The guest speaker is Capt. Jim Spitler, U.S. Coast Guard sector commander. The program also features patriotic music performances. It is recommended to arrive early. Parking is off-site in the Navy parking lot east of the traffic light at Electron Drive and right off Catalina Boulevard. There will be flag placement at the grave sites starting at 8 a.m. Saturday, and community groups can come out and help. cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/ ftrosecrans.asp
SAN MARCOS
VFW Post 3795 will host a ceremony with patriotic music, a color guard and speakers at 10 a.m. Monday at San Marcos Cemetery, 1021 Mulberry Drive. A barbecue lunch will be served afterward at the post, 212 W. Mission Road; hot dogs and burgers with sides, $6 per plate; refills on hot dogs and burgers, $3 each. (760) 744-3795
The 18th annual Memorial Day “Hoist” to honor the fallen is from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday at Churchhill’s Pub & Grille, 887 W. San Marcos Blvd. Honored guest speaker is Vanessa Bolognese, who served as a combat medic in the Army, including during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Bolognese now works as a registered nurse quality consultant for VA San Diego. fb.me/e/ y97xzqBq
SOLANA BEACH
A Memorial Day ceremony with a dove release will be held from 11 a.m. to noon Monday in the Veterans Honor Courtyard at La Colonia Community Center, 715 Valley Ave. The Camp Pendleton Young Marines Color Guard will serve. The Santa Fe Christian School Band will perform patriotic songs. “Feathers From Heaven” doves will be released. The Veterans Memorial wall honoring Solana Beach Veterans of Foreign Wars can be viewed. Light refreshments will be available. (858) 720-2453.
VISTA
A Memorial Day Military, Fire and Law Appreciation
Day will be observed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday at The Wave Waterpark, 101 Wave Drive. Admission is free for active or retired military, fire or law enforcement officers on Memorial Day as a thank you for their service. Valid active-duty or retired ID must be shown at the ticket booth to receive one free admission for each ID and up to six additional tickets may be purchased for $10 each with each valid ID. Dependent IDs valid for discount admission only, not free admission offer. thewavewaterpark.com