Commemorations are planned in all corners of Orange County on Memorial Day to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
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 26, 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 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
Read also: Memorial Day 2025: 10 things to do this holiday weekend
Buena Park: This annual event 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, with guest speaker Maj. Gen. James B. Wellons, commanding general of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. The cemetery is at 3500 Pacific View Drive.
Costa Mesa: This ceremony, now in its 71st 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 feature speaker Col. Robert W. Davis of the United States Space Force, as well as patriotic music, a gun salute, a roll call of those who have died in the last year, recognition of veterans and more. Information: avmafullerton.org
(Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Huntington Beach: The community’s 120th Memorial Day ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. and will feature the Huntington Beach High School Band, an address from H. Delano Roosevelt, grandson of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and various tributes to those who died in service. It will be held at Pier Plaza. 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. Write a card to be sent to the city’s adopted 211/Marine Battalion. Information: cityofirvine.org/specialevents
Also, on Sunday, May 25, 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. The Laguna Community Concert Band will perform at 11 a.m. at Main Beach.
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 a keynote speech from U.S. Army veteran Frans VandenBroek, who served as a helicopter crew chief during the Vietnam 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
Laguna Niguel: At noon, the city and the American Legion Post 281 will hold a ceremony that includes a color guard, dignitaries, guest speaker Dan Heller, author of “Across the Wing,” and the placing of a wreath. The ceremony will be held at the Sea Country Senior and Community Center, 24602 Aliso Creek Road.
La Palma: The city’s Community Activities & Beautification Commission will host the annual ceremony starting at 9 a.m. at the Civic Center, 7822 Walker St. The John F. Kennedy High School and Walker Junior High School bands will perform. Information: lapalmaca.gov/memorialday
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 Col. Charles “Clay” Readinger, commanding officer of Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, and Kathryn Morrison, retired U.S. Army, and musical performances. Tribute banners honoring those who lost their lives in service will be displayed and remain up through May 30. Information: cityofmissionviejo.org
Newport Beach: The 16th annual 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. The display is up through Memorial Day, when there will be a noon celebration of Memorial Day, including keynote speaker retired Capt. Nick Saifan, who is president of IEGS Corp, a disabled veterans business enterprise. Information: nhexchange.net
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. Col. Kevin Nicholson, commander of the 3rd Battalion/5th Marines, various honors and musical presentations. Information: marinemonument.com
San Juan Capistrano: The city and American Legion Post 721 will host an 11 a.m. ceremony at Veterans Park, 31872 Camino Capistrano. Councilmember Howard Hart will give the keynote address.
Also, 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 through Memorial Day. The mission will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and on Memorial Day.
Santa Ana: The annual service at Fairhaven Memorial Park will begin at 10:30 a.m. and will feature patriotic performances, special remarks, a missing man flyover, rifle salute and more. There will also be an exhibit, “America’s Wars,” on display. The cemetery is at 1702 E. Fairhaven Ave. Information: 714-633-1442 or fairhavenmemorial.com
Also, the observance at 10 a.m. at the Santa Ana Cemetery, 1919 E. Santa Clara Ave., will include speakers, a parade of flags, wreath presentations, cannon salutes by Cooper’s Battery and more. The ceremony will be at the Soldiers’ Monument to the Unknown Dead of the Civil War, a community tradition since 1881. Information: occemeterydistrict.com
Seal Beach: The Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach will host a ceremony at 11 a.m. at its United States National Submarine Memorial West. The memorial is at 800 Seal Beach Blvd., and open to the public. There will be guest speakers and the traditional “tolling the boats” ceremony for the 52 submarines lost during WWII.
Also, the Seal Beach Lions Club will host a community ceremony at 1 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. Information: tustinca.org
Westminster: Westminster Memorial Park, 14801 Beach Blvd., will hold a Memorial Day service starting at 11 a.m. near its mausoleum. 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 retired United States Navy Captain Tom Weaver, 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
