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, 25751 Trabuco Road, Lake Forest. Retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Marc A. Moore will deliver the keynote address during a service that will include music, color guards from local veterans organizations and a wreath-laying ceremony. 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-size 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 will 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 Cypress Cemetery, 4471 Lincoln Ave. 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 ceremonies featuring U.S. Rep. Ron Packard (R-Oceanside) as the principal speaker. The event begins at 10:30 a.m.

Other events:

* Strawberry Festival, The Village Green, 12862 Euclid Ave., Garden Grove. The 38th Annual Garden Grove Strawberry Festival runs through Monday. A parade (today), carnival rides and games, strawberry-themed contests, food and craft booths and continuous entertainment highlight this year’s celebration, themed “A Strawberry Salute to Music.” Today and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Monday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. No charge. Information: (714) 638-0981.

* Memorial Day weekend carnival, La Paz and Aliso Creek roads, Laguna Niguel. The eighth annual carnival will feature rides, games, community booths, entertainment, food and more. Today and Sunday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Monday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. No charge. Information: (714) 851-999.

* Royal With Cheese Aggressive Skating Festival, 16321 Gothard St., Huntington Beach. In-line skating festival with demonstrations by Roadhouse, A.J. Jackson, Jake Elliott, Thomas Banuelos, Rollerblade Team Extreme and others, as well as music, an extreme skating school (registration begins at 6 a.m., $10), food, opportunity drawings and sale of skates and accessories. Today, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. No charge except for special programs. Information: (714) 841-3434.

Researched by LESLEY WRIGHT / For The Times