Area cities to mark Memorial Day with special events

It looks like it’ll be a cool Memorial Day weekend, according to the forecast from the National Weather Service in San Diego.

Meteorologists expect temperatures in Orange County throughout the weekend to stay in the low 70s and high 60s with strong winds on Saturday and Sunday in the mountains and deserts throughout Southern California. Memorial Day historically kicks off the busy summer season for tourism, and beaches, lifeguards say, are expected to be crowded.

“Anywhere you go in Newport Beach, you’ll be within walking distance of a manned lifeguard tower,” said Newport Beach lifeguard battalion chief Adam Yacenda.

A number of events are being held throughout the Daily Pilot’s coverage area to memorialize our country’s war dead this Memorial Day and to salute others who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Here’s a list of just some of those activities:

Newport Beach

Field of Honor
Castaways Park, 700 Dover Drive

Seventeen hundred and seventy-six flags are displayed across the lawn at Castaways Park, honoring veterans. On Monday there will be a Memorial Day event that begins at 11:15 a.m. and ends at around noon. Patriotic music will be played by the Fabulous Nomads, and a dedication ceremony for the flags will be held from noon to 1 p.m.

For more information, visit exchangeclubofnewportharbor.com/field-of-honor.

Remembrance Ceremony
Pacific View Memorial Park & Mortuary, 3500 Pacific View Drive

A remembrance ceremony will be held at Pacific View Memorial Park, beginning at 11 a.m. until noon on Memorial Day.

Costa Mesa

68th Memorial Day Ceremony
Harbor Lawn-Mt. Olive Memorial Park & Mortuary, 1625 Gisler Ave.

The event will begin at 11 a.m. on Monday and is expected to include an aerial flyover and a wreath-laying ceremony. Admission is free and lunch is expected to be served. The ceremony is organized by the Freedom Committee of Orange County. For more information, visit fcocmemorialday.com.

Fountain Valley

Veterans Park, Los Alamos St.

A flag-raising ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. Monday in Veterans Park. The ceremony is expected to end at noon and is organized by the West Orange County Veterans of Foreign Affairs Post & Auxiliary 9557. Interested parties can attend in person or watch the event on Facebook at facebook.com/fvrecreation.

Laguna Beach

Heisler Park, 375 Cliff Drive

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5868 will be hosting a Memorial Day ceremony at Monument Point in Heisler Park on Memorial Day. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. and include remarks from Laguna Beach Mayor Sue Kempf. Music will begin at 10:30 a.m.

Free Concert
Main Beach, Broadway Street and Pacific Coast Highway

The Laguna Beach Community Jazz and Concert Bands are holding a free concert on Memorial Day at Main Beach. The band will be playing tunes starting at 10:45 a.m. but patriotic music will begin at around 12:45 p.m. with the Laguna Community Concert Band, with some vocalists present.

Huntington Beach

Pier Plaza, 401 CA-1

The city and American Legion Post 133 will be holding a Memorial Day ceremony at Pier Plaza at 11 a.m.

Other O.C. cities

Fairhaven Memorial Park & Mortuary
1702 Fairhaven Ave. Santa Ana

A ceremony will begin Monday at 10:30 a.m. and run until 12 p.m. in front of the mausoleum in Fairhaven Memorial Park. Flowers can also be placed in the memorial park for the holiday over the weekend, though they will be removed Tuesday, June 7.

Santa Ana Cemetery
1919 E. Santa Clara Ave., Santa Ana

The Santa Ana Cemetery will be holding an in-person Memorial Day program by the soldier’s monument by the gate off of Santa Clara Avenue. The event is expected to begin at 10 a.m. and is organized by the Tri-City Memorial Day Committee, which includes the participation of multiple organizations in Santa Ana, Orange and Tustin. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs.

Colonel Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park
4 Civic Center Plaza, Irvine

The city of Irvine will also be holding its annual Memorial Day event in the formal garden at 10 a.m. Attendees will hear remarks from a commanding officer and have the opportunity to memorialize troops by writing a brief remembrance to be posted on a memory board of the event. Cards will be available.

Northwood Gratitude and Honor Memorial
4531 Bryan Ave., Irvine

A ceremony will be held at the Northwood Gratitude and Honor Memorial on Sunday, beginning at 4 p.m. The guest speakers will be Jim and Carla Hogan, whose son, Lance Cpl. Donald Hogan, died while serving in Afghanistan in 2009. For more information, visit northwoodmemorial.com.

The Richard Nixon Library & Museum
18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda

The Richard Nixon Library & Museum will hold a Memorial Day tribute starting at 10 a.m. with the presentation of formal colors. Rep. Young Kim will lay a wreath and deliver remarks. The Huntington Beach Concert Band will play at 11 a.m. in the Nixon Library’s replica of the White House East Room. Veterans will receive free admission to the library.

Visit nixonfoundation.org/event/memorial-day-nixon-library to RSVP for the concert.

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