COUNTYWIDE : A Day to Remember--and Relax

Patriotic speeches were delivered and solemn services conducted throughout Orange County on Monday as hundreds commemorated those who died while fighting for their country.

Meanwhile, thousands of residents took to beaches and parks to mark the traditional opening of the summer season, although coolish temperatures kept local beach crowds smaller than might be expected for the holiday.

At the Irvine Civic Center, retired Marine Corps Gen. William A. (Art) Bloomer asked a flag-waving crowd of about 300, “How do we assure those who bear the scars of previous wars and those who have died? How do we repay those who have been called upon to defend the interests of our nation, our cherished freedoms? The answer is: We begin by remembering.”

Bloomer, former commander of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Base who last year was elected to the Irvine City Council, was the keynote speaker at the “Day of Memory” organized by city officials.

The relatively few U.S. casualties suffered during the Persian Gulf War were cause for a day of thanksgiving as well as a day of commemoration, said Bloomer.

“We, the people of Irvine, our VFW and all our veterans’ organizations have shown here today . . . that we do indeed care for our dead.”

Nine-year-old Ryan Burnham agreed, as he and other members of Cub Scout Troop 685 passed out programs and miniature flags to those arriving for the midday ceremonies in Irvine.

“I’m proud of them a lot,” he said of servicemen who have died in combat. “And I’d like to say thank you to them.”

In Fullerton, about 40 veterans and service organizations under the banner of the American Veterans Memorial Assn. sponsored ceremonies at Loma Vista Memorial Park, where a cross and flag were placed on servicemen’s graves.

The groups also honored the 50th anniversary of the United Service Organizations, better known as the USO.

Coolish weather did not deter the 200 people who turned out for Memorial Day services at Bellis Park in Buena Park, which was followed by a barbecue at Buena Park American Legion Post 354.

And in Cypress, about a dozen “Gold Star Mothers,” women whose sons or daughters were killed in combat, were honored in ceremonies at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, where another 200 people listened to a high school band and Mayor Walter K. Bowman read a proclamation from President Bush. Hundreds of others visited grave sites for more private remembrances of their loved ones.

The cemetery “looks like a park on a day like today,” Bowman said.

At Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley it looked “like a busy summer day,” according to park attendant Mike Lahart.

About 4,000 people had entered the park by 2 p.m. for picnicking and soccer games.

There was a bit more elbow room at the beaches, however, where air temperatures in the mid-60s and water temperatures in the mid-50s kept crowds middle-size.

The crowd “is not as big as we would have thought,” said Steve Seim, marine safety officer at Huntington Beach, where about 20,000 people spread themselves across nearly 4 miles of city beach. “With the calm in the weather today we shouldn’t have expected any more. With good weather it would be up to 40,000.”