LANCASTER/PALMDALE – Hundreds will gather around the Antelope Valley Sunday and Monday to remember those soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country so that we may continue to live our lives in freedom.
You can join them at one or all of the following ceremonies, which are free and open to the public:
Annual Candlelight Ceremony – Marine Corps League
When: Sunday, May 27, 2012
Time: 7 p.m.
Where: Lancaster Cemetery Veterans Court of Honor, 111 East Lancaster Blvd.
Guests will be given a lighted candle before the ceremony to honor those men and women who have passed away since last Memorial Day. The Muroc Young Marines will conduct the flag ceremony. Soloist Amanda Dodson will sing the National Anthem. Lancaster Cemetery trustees will place a memorial wreath beneath the flagpole in honor of all veterans.
The guest speaker will be Norman L. Hickling, Field Deputy to Supervisor, Fifth District, Michael D. Antonovich.
Chaplains from A.V. Marine Corps League Detachment #930 and other veterans’ organizations will read the “Final Roll Call,” the naming of members who have passed away since Memorial Day 2011. Red roses will be placed on top of a flag draped casket in remembrance of the deceased veterans.
Refreshments will be provided by Friends of the Lancaster Cemetery. For details call 661-942-6110.
Memorial Day Ceremony – Lancaster
When: Monday, May 28, 2012
Time: 10 a.m.
Where: Lancaster Cemetery Veterans Court of Honor, 111 East Lancaster Blvd.
This community program will focus on the dedication of a granite plaque honoring Antelope Valley veterans who served and those who were killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
The Patriot Guard Riders will escort the Gold Star families into the cemetery and form a flag line in honor of the veterans. The Muroc Young Marines will conduct the flag ceremony. Lancaster Cemetery trustees will place a floral wreath at the base of the U.S. and P.O.W. flagpole to honor all veterans.
U.S. Navy veteran Phil Roberts and Lancaster Cemetery Manager Dayle DeBry will join together with a bell ceremony to honor those who have passed on since Memorial Day 2011 and are interred at the cemetery.
JD Kennedy, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and representative for Congressman Howard “Buck” McKeon, will be the keynote speaker. For details call 661-942-6110.
Memorial Day Ceremony – Palmdale
When: Monday, May 28, 2012
Time: 11 a.m.
Where: Desert Lawn Memorial Park, 2200 East Avenue S in Palmdale
This annual Memorial Day Ceremony is presented by the Antelope Valley Service Organization Association (AVSOA) to honor fallen veterans. Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford will offer welcoming remarks and introduce the dignitaries. Daniel W. Kirmel will serve as Master of Ceremonies.
Local organizations participating in the Memorial Day event are Boy Scout Troop #335, American Legion Post #348, Daughters of the American Revolution, Elks Lodge #2027, Highland High School Air Force JROTC, Disabled American Veterans #39, and the Color Guard.
Remarks will be made by Ken Branam, Commander American Legion Post 348; Cletus Harris, Leading Knight Elks Lodge 2027; Darrell O’Bullock, Judge Advocate/Treasurer Disabled American Veterans 39, as well as others.
The ceremony will include the raising of the colors, invocation and benediction by VFW Post 3552 Chaplain Gary Bassett, Pledge of Allegiance, National Anthem, Table of Honor Ceremony, Two Bell Ceremony, laying of wreaths, and a Salute to Veterans. The ceremony will conclude with taps.
Immediately following the ceremony, there will be an observance held at the old Palmdale Cemetery, located at 20th St. East. For more information, call 661-267-5551.
Memorial Day Celebration – Joshua Memorial Park
When: Monday, May 28, 2012
Time: 11 a.m.
Where: Joshua Memorial Park, 808 East Lancaster Blvd.
Joshua Memorial Park & Mortuary and VFW Post 3000 invites residents to an annual Memorial Day celebration.
The celebration will feature the presentation of the colors, performance of the national anthem by the Antelope Valley College School of Music, musical selections by the Tehachapi Pipe and Drum, keynote speaker, wreath laying ceremony and C-17 Flyover.
Volunteers from Linda Verde Elementary School will have games for the kids. The services will be followed by hotdogs and refreshments for guests. Enter a free drawing to win a flag case and the U.S. Flag that will fly over this year’s Memorial Day service. Call 661-942-8125 for more information.
Japanese Memorial Service – Lancaster
When: Monday, May 28, 2012
Time: 12 p.m.
Where: Japanese monument at the southwest end of Lancaster Cemetery, 111 East Lancaster Blvd.
Rev. Yoshiko Ota and Rev. Toshio Ota from the Konko Church of Lancaster will conduct a ceremony next to the Japanese monument at the southwest end of Lancaster Cemetery to honor the pioneers who built the monument and those who have passed away during the preceding year. For details call 66-942-6110.
Editor’s Note: Are you hosting a Memorial Day Ceremony that is not listed above? Let us know at editor@www.theavtimes.com and we will update the story to add your event to the list. Or place your event in the comments section. Thanks for reading!
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Abdul Majeed Askia says
Why I speak so bodly! My father and numerous relatives retired from
the military. In fact I have relatives in the military as we speak!
My ancestry is deeply rooted in these united states starting with the american Indians!My parents have Indian,African and Caucasian ancestry.
Upon observation I am of African American. As a citizen I have taken it
upon myself to serve and volunteer over the years in community service
in the area of non profit groups,youth groups and religious organizations.
In short my immediate family have served and sacrificed that I might
be able to speak my peace ! In our pledge of alleginace it is stated
” With liberty and justice for all!” This country belongs to the american
people who have fought and died to up-hold the constitution, this
republic,-government of the people,for the people and by the people!
There are people in the army that is fighting and dying for all of us,
not just some of us but for all of us.Like Jesus he died for all of
us,or like prophet Muhammad is a mercy to all of the worlds,this
country (this military)is for all of its people !Jews,chritians,muslims,
athiest,agnostics,polyitheist,everybody!Black,white,brown,red,light,
dark,and inbetween! Preamle: We hold these truths to be self evident
that all men are created equal,that they are endowed with certain
inalienable rights,among these are life,liberty and the pursuit of
happiness!We should all let liberty ring ! For everybody!!!!The world
is represented in the american people. We must think interms of truth
and the representation of humanity rising above shallow definitions of
self and bodly standing for “Justice for all!”National Public Speaker:
abdulaskia@yahoo.com/323-945-9589
Our country in ethnicity is multi-dimentional,multi cultural,multi
religious i.e. made up of every creed class and color,from every part
of the world and from every background. All of the above is what makes
this country unique.