Memorial Day Celebrations

Veterans groups across the county will hold Memorial Day services Monday. Some of the major ceremonies will be at:

* El Toro Memorial Park Cemetery, 25751 Trabuco Road, Lake Forest. Retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Marc A. Moore will deliver the keynote address during a service that includes music, color guards from local veteran organizations and a wreath-laying ceremonies. The event begins at 11 a.m.

* Loma Vista Memorial Park, 701 E. Bastanchury Road, Fullerton. The American Veterans Memorial Assn. will sponsor a tribute to the U.S. Merchant Marines, beginning at 10 a.m. Capt. Francis X. Johnston, the Western region director of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration, will speak. About 3,000 white crosses and flags will be placed on veterans’ graves for the event. The park is north of the Riverside Freeway and east of Harbor Boulevard.

* Memory Garden Memorial Park, 455. W. Central Ave., Brea. Nearly 1,000 full-sized flags that previously draped veterans’ coffins will fly at the park during the service. Harvey C. Mayhill, worshipful master of Anaheim Masonic Lodge No. 207, will address a host of veterans and civic groups from Brea, La Habra, Placentia, Anaheim, Yorba Linda and Santa Ana. The event is from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

* Santa Ana Cemetery, 1919 E. Santa Clara Ave. The American Legion is sponsoring the ceremonies, which include participants from Orange, Santa Ana and Tustin. Members of more than 22 organizations will hear Kelly Walters, a Santa Ana high school student who won the legion’s oratorical contest, give the main address. The event runs from 10 a.m. to noon, around the Soldiers Monument.

* Forest Lawn Memorial Park, 4471 Lincoln Blvd., Cypress. About 1,000 participants are expected to gather to hear Dorothy A. Avery, one of only a handful of women to serve in the Women’s Air Force Service Pilot Program during World War II. A parade of color guards representing 15 veterans groups will salute members of the armed forces. Ceremonies begin at 11 a.m.

* Community Center, 100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente. The Retired Officers Assn., South Coast Chapter, will host services featuring U.S. Rep. Ron Packard (R-Oceanside) as the principal speaker. The event begins at 10:30 a.m.

Researched by LESLEY WRIGHT / For The Times