Memorial Day Celebration Events

(Photo: Patti Gutshall)

Memorial Day honors the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Now it’s celebrated on the last Monday in May. Many observe the holiday by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Locally, we visit military monuments and cemeteries before going to a backyard BBQ or beach party. 

There are several ways to honor Memorial Day throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties on Monday, May 28. Below is a list compiled by an edhat reader for reference:

Ballard

•  Oak Hill Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony, 11 a.m., 2560 Baseline Ave. at Oak Hill Road

Members of the American Legion Post 160 will conduct a short ceremony honoring veterans.  More than 800 graves were decorated by this group on Saturday.

• Carpinteria Valley Cemetery Ceremony, 10 a.m., Carpinteria Cemetery District, 1501 Cravens Lane. 

The Carpinteria Lion’s Club is sponsoring the Memorial Day commemoration in this historic cemetery. 

Goleta

• Goleta Cemetery District Annual Memorial Day Program, 9 a.m., 44 S. San Antonio Road. 

The American Veterans (AMVETS) Santa Barbara Post 3 is sponsoring this year’s Memorial Day commemoration at the Goleta Cemetery. U.S. Air Force Veteran Dave Scott and U.S. Naval Veteran & AMVETS Commander Geronimo Gonzalez will be the keynote speakers.  The program includes a bagpiper and a bugler. 

Guadalupe

• Guadalupe Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony, 11 a.m., corner of Highways 1 and 166

The keynote speaker will be Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Jeff Johnson, 30thMedical Group. 

Lompoc

• Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony, 11 a.m., 600 S. C Street

The keynote speaker will be Air Force Col. Michael Hough, 30th Space Wing Commander. 

Orcutt

• Pine Grove Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony, 11 a.m., south end of Bradley Road, north of Rice Ranch Road

Air Force Lt. Col. Brent Gallant, 30th Security Forces Squadron commander is participating in this ceremony. 

Los Olivos

• St. Mark’s in the Valley Episcopal Church Cemetery, 11:30 a.m., 2901 Nojoqui Ave. at Alamo Pintado Road

Members of the American Legion Post 160 will conduct a short ceremony honoring veterans.

Santa Barbara

• Santa Barbara Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony, 10-11 a.m., Santa Barbara Cemetery, 901 Channel Drive. 

The Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation will again sponsor this special ceremony. Retired Air Force Colonel Philip J. Conran will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the event which will include speakers from different military branches. The ceremony includes bagpipes and the Santa Barbara Choral Society. Closing the program will be a flyover of vintage war ‘birds’.  Arrive early for seating and parking. If you are attending and want to sit together, please let me know and I’ll save you a seat.  Additional information is at:  http://sbcemetery.org/memorial_day.html

Santa Maria

• Santa Maria Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony, 11 a.m., Santa Maria Cemetery District, 1501 South College Drive, Santa Maria. 

Air Force Col. Curtis Hernandez, 30th Operations Group commander at Vandenberg AFB will be the keynote speaker. 

• Chalk Hill Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony, 10 a.m., 645 Chalk Hill Rd at Elsinore Drive

Members of the American Legion Post 160 will conduct a short ceremony honoring veterans.

• Old Mission Santa Ines Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony, 10:30 a.m., 1760 Mission Dr. (Highway 246 at Mariposa Drive)

Members of the American Legion Post 160 will conduct a short ceremony honoring veterans.

• Solvang Memorial Day Program, noon, Solvang Park, Highway 246 at First Street where a plaque at the base of a flagpole honors the 18 Santa Ynez Valley veterans who died from World War I through Afghanistan.

Hosted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7139 and American Legion Post 160, this year’s ceremony will feature Major General Stephen Whiting, 14th Air Force Commander, Vandenberg AFB as the keynote speaker.  In addition, the special guest speaker will be highly awarded USN Capt. (Ret.) Charlie Plumb (Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Purple Hear and the P.O.W. Medal).   Patriotic music will be provided by the Santa Ynez Wind Ensemble.  The ceremony will include an American Legion Post 160 Rifle Salute and a Vietnam Era helicopter flyby.  A luncheon barbecue for veterans and their families follows the ceremony in Solvang Park hosted by the Vikings of Solvang.  Information: www.syvalleyvets.org

Ventura

• Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura will hold a ceremony at 10 a.m. at 5400 Valentine Road. 

• Cemetery Park (aka St. Mary’s and the Presbyterian Cemeteries), 4 p.m., 1347 E. Main St. 

Hosted by the Restore St. Mary’s Foundation, an observance will honor the 78 veterans buried at the site and highlight Private Silverio Lorenzana, a Ventura resident who lived from 1877 to 1926.  He served during the Spanish American War in the U.S. Army’s CA Regiment; Lorenzana’s descendants will be at the event to receive a ceremonial flag.