How Orange County Will Mark Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day, or Decoration Day, a patriotic holiday since the Civil War to honor the departed. In recent years, though, it has also become a time of relaxation marking the beginning of summer activities.

Closed: Federal, state, county and city government offices will be closed. The U.S. Postal Service will operate on a holiday schedule and there will be no regular mail deliveries. The Orange County Transit District will follow its Sunday schedule. Courts, banks, libraries, elementary and secondary schools, and many businesses will observe the holiday.

Celebrations: Brig. Gen. William A. Bloomer, commanding officer of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, will speak at 10 a.m. services sponsored by the American Veterans Memorial Assn. at Loma Vista Memorial Park, 701 E. Bastanchury Road, Fullerton.

The Anaheim American Legion Post 72, along with Anaheim Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3173 will have a parade, march and service. The march will start at 10 a.m. at the corner of Sycamore and Lemon streets and will continue to the Anaheim Cemetery for a 10:45 a.m. memorial service. The grand marshal and guest speaker will be Carl Karcher, founder and chairman of the board of Carl Karcher Enterprises. Following the service, Post 72 will host a reception in the Post Hall.

More than 800 American flags will be posted along the roadway in Memory Gardens, 455 W. Central Ave., Brea, beginning at 11 a.m. The observance is sponsored by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5384, American Legion posts in Brea, Placentia and La Habra, and the Gold Star Mothers. Members of the posts will also put white crosses and red poppies on veterans’ graves. The services are open to the public.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9148 will sponsor an 11 a.m. wreath-laying ceremony at the grave of the Unknown Soldier at the Olive Lawn Cemetery in La Mirada. Following the ceremony, a free luncheon will be served at the VFW Hall, 13357 Adelfa Drive, La Mirada. The activities will be open to the public.

A 21-round rifle salute and playing of taps will mark ceremonies at 11 a.m. sponsored by VFW Post 9847, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, 4471 Lincoln Ave., Cypress. Wreaths will be laid on a symbolic grave, and Supervisor Harriett M. Wieder will read President Reagan’s Memorial Day Proclamation.