PALMDALE – Ceremonies honoring fallen veterans are planned in both Palmdale and Lancaster this Monday to mark Memorial Day.
In Palmdale, the Antelope Valley Service Organization Association (AVSOA) will hold its annual Memorial Day Ceremony starting 11 a.m., Monday, May 26 at Desert Lawn Memorial Park, located at 2200 East Avenue S.
Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford will offer welcoming remarks and introduce the dignitaries, while Daniel W. Kirmel will serve as Master of Ceremonies.
Local organizations participating in the Memorial Day event are Highland High School Air Force JROTC, VFW Post #3552, Daughters of the American Revolution, American Legion Post #348, Elks Lodge #2027, Sea Scouts Ship 11 and a color guard.
Remarks will be made by Viola Lawrence, Registrar, Daughters of the American Revolution; Ken Branam, Commander American Legion Post 348; Gary Bassett; Julio Nieves, Past Exalted Ruler Elks Lodge 2027; Terry Hopper, Commander VFW Post 3552; and Bobby Breech.
The ceremony will include the raising of the colors, invocation and benediction by John Clark, 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.
The Palmdale Memorial Day Ceremony is free and open to the public. Immediately following the ceremony, there will be an observance held at the old Palmdale Cemetery, located at 20th St. East.
For more information, call 661-267-5904.
Lancaster Cemetery District Memorial Day event
Lancaster’s Memorial Day ceremony begins at 9 a.m., Monday, May 26, at the Veterans Court of Honor at Lancaster Cemetery, located at 111 East Lancaster Boulevard.
The program will focus on World War I veterans, and it will include the special dedication of a headstone for a WWI veteran who has never had a headstone, according to Cemetery Manager Dayle DeBry.
The program will also feature remarks from Colonel Art McGettrick from Edwards Air Force Base (also serving as Taps player); Bagpiper Christopher Parke; and remarks from Antelope Valley Press Editor and Army veteran Dennis Anderson.
The program will also include a special thank you to all those who donated to help restore the Veterans Court Honor following a vandalism incident over the Easter weekend, DeBry stated.
In addition to its annual Memorial Day ceremony, the Lancaster Cemetery District will host a ceremony on Memorial Eve.
The Marine Corps League’s 19th Annual Candlelight Ceremony starts at 7 p.m., Sunday, May 25, at the Lancaster Cemetery.
Both ceremonies are free and open to the public.
For more information, contact Dayle DeBry at (661) 943-2970 or email lancastercem@verizon.net.