Memorial Day 2024: List of Bay Area events to honor veterans and fallen soldiers

A number of Bay Area communities and organizations will host events this weekend to mark Memorial Day, which honors the lives of those killed in service to the United States. Here is a list:

ALAMEDA: The USS Hornet Sea, Air and Space Museum will be holding its annual Memorial Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday. The event will feature a guest speaker, U.S. Navy Medical Corps Rear Admiral Michael S. Baker. There will also be a wreath laying, and Campolindo High School Senior Mina Lim will sing the National Anthem. A Memorial Squadron will fly over the museum around 1 p.m. The museum is also holding a book sale for used military history books. The museum is at 707 West Hornet Ave. and will be open until 5 p.m. Details: Free for veterans; for others, event included in admission ($20 for adults, $15 for seniors, students, $10 for kids 7-17). https://uss-hornet.org

ANTIOCH: Residents are invited to Oak View Memorial Park on Saturday, May 25, to place flags at gravesites. The annual Memorial Day ceremony on Monday will include a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Antioch Rivertown Veterans Lions Group at 9 a.m. The ceremony, which will start at 10 a.m., will include a fire engine escort, a 9/11 memorial tribute and a military aerial flyover. Details: https://antiochherald.com

CAMPBELL: The Campbell Veterans Memorial Foundation will be hosting an all-day event to honor deceased veterans and those who died in action. The ceremony will start at 9 a.m. at the Orchard City Green at Campbell City Hall. The local Junior ROTC group will present the National Colors to honor the veterans. A 21 Gun Salute will also be conducted by American Legion Post 99. The event will also feature live music by Del mar Band and the National Sweet Adelines. The city is also inviting residents to honor their veterans by placing a flower in their name on the foundation’s Memorial Day wreath. Details: https://www.downtowncampbell.com

CLAYTON/CONCORD: The two cities will host an event titled “Honor the Fallen” from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at The Grove in Clayton. The honored guests are World War II veterans Chuck Kohler and Jake Larson. The organizers advise the public to bring their own chairs if they attend. Details: https://claytonca.gov

DANVILLE: The city will be holding two events on Memorial Day. The Viet Nam Veterans of Diablo Valley will hold their annual Memorial Day remembrance at Oak Hill Park at 3005 Stone Valley Rd. at the All Wars Memorial. Live music will start playing at 10 a.m. and the program will begin at 11 a.m. with speaker Bill Green. At night, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 75 and other local veterans organizations are inviting the public to view the lighting of the Mount Diablo Beacon at 8 p.m. Mayor Karen Stepper will press a remote to light the aviation beacon. The Veterans Memorial Building at 400 Hartz Ave. will be open from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Details: https://www.danville.ca.gov

GILROY: The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6309 will commemorate Memorial Day at Gavilan Hills Cemetery. People who are interested should contact Commander Raul Torrez at 408-893-9647 for more information. Details: https://www.sscvmemorialdistrict.org

HAYWARD: Residents can pick from two events in the city. Lone Tree Cemetery (24591 Fairview Ave.) will hold its annual Memorial Day program from 10 a.m. until noon. The event will start with a helicopter flyover and landing and move into music by the Hayward Municipal Band. A keynote speaker is scheduled to speak at 11 a.m. After finishing honors, there will be a barbecue lunch at noon. Chapel of the Chimes will also be hosting a Memorial Day Event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., which will include free barbecue and refreshments until they run out, free coloring books and crayons for children, and a dove release. Stuart Highlanders Pipe Band will also perform at the event, and Union City Councilmember Jaime Patino will deliver a speech.

LOS ALTOS: A Veteran’s Tribute and Memorial Day Mass will be held at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery at 22555 Cristo Rey Dr. from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The event will be presided over by Bishop Oscar Cantu and will include bagpipes, a moment of silence and a Mass in honor of fallen soldiers. The event will be held outdoors; chairs will be provided. The organizers advise the public to bring water, sun protection and shade and account for parking time before getting to the event. Details: https://www.cfcssanjose.org

LOS GATOS: The Los Gatos Memorial Park cemetery will hold its annual commemoration featuring the San Jose Metropolitan Band playing marches and patriotic music from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by the official ceremony from 11 a.m. to noon. Details: 2255 Los Gatos Almaden Road, San Jose; street parking advised as onsite parking is limited. www.sjmetroband.org

MILPITAS: The annual Memorial Day ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. at the Veterans Plaza, between City Hall and Milpitas Community Center, to honor Milpitas residents who died serving in the U.S Armed Forces. Local performers and organizations will also be paying tribute at the event. Light refreshments will also be offered after the program. Details: https://www.milpitas.gov

OAKLAND: Piedmont Funeral Services and Mountain View Cemetery are marking their hundredth Memorial Day commemoration this year from 10 a.m. to noon. There will be music, live singers, and speakers from the Armed Forces. Boy Scouts Piedmont Troop #6 will perform a presentation of colors and a gun salute will be held for the fallen soldiers. Refreshments are free. Details: https://www.mountainviewcemetery.org

PLEASANTON: The Pleasanton Community Concert Band will be holding a free concert at Pleasanton Senior Center at 5353 Sunol Blvd. from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Details: https://pleasantonband.org

REDWOOD CITY: The city is holding its annual Union Cemetery Memorial Day ceremony from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., which will include music, speeches, the decorating of graves and the traditional anvil firing. The city encouraged attendees to bike, walk and carpool to Union Cemetery (316 Woodside Rd.). The city is also offering transportation to the seating area for people who need assistance. Details: https://www.redwoodcity.org

SAN FRANCISCO: A Memorial Day ceremony will be hosted by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at the San Francisco National Ceremony at 11 a.m. For more information, call the cemetary at 650-589-7737. Details: https://www.cem.va.gov

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SAN JOSE: Oak Hill Funeral Home and Memorial Park will be holding an event called Memorial Day: Some Gave All. The keynote speaker is Major Robert “Adam” Patterson, who was formally in the Marine Corps and CIA Special Operations Group. The event will also include veteran resources, a live band, a World War I-era trench and other activities. It will start at 11 a.m. at the veterans section of the cemetery (300 Curtner Ave.) Details: www.dignitymemorial.com

SAN RAMON: The city’s annual Memorial Day program will start at 9 a.m. at San Ramon Memorial Park at 5001 Bollinger Canyon Rd. It will include patriotic music, remarks from city officials and veterans groups and a commemorative Field of Flags. The program is expected to last one hour. People are also invited to come and place a flag in the field; those unable to attend can fill out a Google Form to have a staff member place a flag on their behalf. Details: https://www.sanramon.ca.gov

SARATOGA: The city’s 97th Annual Memorial Day Observance will start at 9:30 a.m. at the Memorial Arch At Blaney Plaza in Historic Saratoga District. The procession will move from the arch to Madronia Cemetery for a service at 10 a.m.. The event is expected to end at 11 a.m. Details: https://www.saratoga.ca.us

WALNUT CREEK: A ceremony will be held from 11 a.m. until noon at Civic Park at 1375 Civic Dr. It will include guest speakers and music from the Walnut Creek Concert Band. Details: https://www.walnutcreekca.gov

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