Memorial Day community events across San Diego County: 2025 guide

Memorial Day, first called Decoration Day, has its origins in the Civil War (1861-1865) and was a time to honor the Union soldiers who died.
Now the national holiday honors all military members who died in service to the United States. The holiday typically includes community tributes and visits to cemeteries to decorate graves with American flags each year on the last Monday in May. This year the holiday falls on May 26.
Memorial Day ceremonies will be held in communities across San Diego County and most are free to attend. Here’s a guide to some events to remember and honor service members who died for the country.
A Memorial Day tribute, hosted by Coronado Veterans of Foreign Wars (Post 2422) starts at 10 a.m. Monday, May 26 at Star Park, 1030 Park Place. Highlights include the presentation of colors, keynote speakers, taps and a singing of the national anthem. There is a Memorial Wall at VFW Post 2422 at 557 Orange Ave., where families can honor their veterans on bronze plaques. Worn flags are no longer accepted at the post. (619) 435-6917.
Chula Vista
A flag placement event is at 10 a.m. May 23 at the Veterans Park, 785 E. Palomar St. Community members can honor veterans by placing American flags along the park’s “Walk of Honor” walkway, which is paved with bricks inscribed with the names of veterans. .
Community members can also observe Memorial Day by visiting the city’s Memorial Park, 373 Park Way, and viewing the monument with the names of Chula Vista residents who have died in combat.
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church will hold its annual community Memorial Day service remembering fallen service members at 11 a.m. Monday, May 26 at 334 14th St. This year’s speaker will be Navy Lt. Cmdr. Brad DeVore. The service of hymns and prayer will be followed by a memorial roll call of members of the armed services who died in active duty. The service concludes with the playing of taps. .
The El Cajon Elks Lodge 1812 holds a Memorial Day barbecue and band event from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, May 26 at the lodge, 1400 E. Washington Ave. The menu features barbecue chicken or chicken fried steak mashed potatoes and gravy corn on the cob and a dessert. The featured band is “The Ideas.” The entry fee is $5; the meal is $15. Visit /lodges/?LodgeNumber=1812. (619) 444-1812.
Community members can join Taps Across America with a live taps bugle call at 3 p.m. Monday, May 26 at the flagpole of First Presbyterian Church, 500 Farragut Circle. Thousands of participants across the country will sound the 24 notes of the most solemn bugle call, taps, to honor and remember fallen military members. All are welcome to attend.
American Legion Post 416 hosts a Memorial Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday, May 26 at 210 W. F St. with food and entertainment after the salute to the fallen. .
The ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. Monday, May 26 at Oak Hill Memorial Park, 2640 Glenridge Road. This year’s ceremony will be hosted by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1513 and 1513 Auxiliary, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 70 and Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1147. Highlights will include posting of colors, singing of the national anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops along with a bugler. Visit .
A Memorial Day ceremony will be at 11 a.m. Monday, May 26 at the Masonic Cemetery, 1177 Santa Margarita Drive, followed by lunch at noon at Fallbrook Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1924 at 1175 Old Stage Road. .
A memorial observance is from 11 a.m. to noon Monday at Julian Pioneer Cemetery, at A Street at Farmer Road, weather permitting. A potluck will follow at American Legion Post 468 at 2503 Washington St. (760) 765-0126.
North County
Bugles Across America is partnering with Stater Bros. Markets to host a bugler to play a live rendition of taps after a moment of silence at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day at some Stater Bros. locations, paying tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice serving the country. Local participating locations include 3770 Mission Ave. in Oceanside, 9909 Carmel Mountain Road, San Diego and 1048 N. El Camino Real in Encinitas.
The Veterans Association of North County hosts a Memorial Day ceremony from 10 a.m. to noon Monday, May 26 in the VANC Resource Center, 1617 Mission Ave. The guest speaker is retired Marine Col. Willy Buhl, deputy assistant chief of staff for government and external Affairs, MCI-West. Free lunch will be served after the program. RSVP required. (760) 722-1277, /memorial-day-ceremony.
Eternal Hills Memorial Park holds its annual Memorial Day remembrance at 11 a.m. Monday, May 26 at Eternal Hills, 1999 El Camino Real. The ceremony includes a commemorative bell toll to honor fallen heroes. The program will close with a benediction followed by a white dove release. A free lunch will be offered. (760) 754-6600, .
The Mission San Luis Rey Parish will hold Memorial Day Mass at 8 a.m. Monday, May 26 in the cemetery chapel. All are welcome. (760) 757-3250, .
VFW Post 3783 will hold ceremonies at 10 a.m. Monday at Nuevo Memory Gardens, 532 Ash St. and 11 a.m. at the World War II Memorial at the 9th Street ballfield and noon at the Vietnam Memorial off state Route 67 at the Schwaesdall Winery, 17677 Rancho De Oro Drive. (760) 789-7888,
Rancho Bernardo
A Memorial Day ceremony at the Rancho Bernardo Veterans Memorial begins at 11 a.m. Monday at Webb Park, 11666 Avena Place. Participants will include members of the Brigadier Gen. J.P. Holland Chapter, Military Order of World Wars; Scouts from BSA Troop 685; the Rancho Bernardo High School Madrigals Choir; Westview High School NJROTC. Bring lawn chairs or blankets.
The Rancho Bernardo Historical Society hosts its 18th annual Pancake Festival honoring the military from 8 to 11 a.m. Monday, May 26 at Webb Park with live music, a circus demonstration team, a silent auction and face painting. A raffle will be held adjacent to the Veterans Memorial, thanks to Los Rancheros Kiwanis Club. The cost to attend is $15; free for veterans, active military and children younger than 3.
The Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial will honor the nation’s heroes in a tribute event from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, May 26 at Mount Soledad, 6905 La Jolla Scenic Drive S., La Jolla. The event will honor in particular Seaman Lakiba Nicole Palmer and her 16 fellow sailors who lost their lives during the terrorist attack on USS Cole on Oct. 12, 2000. The ceremony will honor veterans, former prisoners of war, and those still listed as Missing in Action along with the USS Cole heroes. Command Master Chief of the USS Cole at the time of the attack, retired Navy Command Master Chief Petty Officer James Parlier, and the ship’s Executive Officer, retired Navy Captain Chris Peterschmidt, will deliver remarks before the names of the 17 sailors will be read. Highlights will include musical performances by Marine Band San Diego, a wreath laying and a missing-man flyover. Free parking is at Mount Soledad Presbyterian Church and the French American School.
The Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation will host a Memorial Day Ceremony at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 25 at Miramar National Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Drive, in the cemetery’s flag assembly area. The theme is the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy. Speakers include Vice Admiral Daniel Cheever, commander, Naval Air Forces and commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Music will be performed by the Westwind Brass, a bugler and bagpiper, among others. /event/memorial-day-2025
otary District 5340 members and community volunteers will place 22,000 American flags on each veteran’s grave at Miramar National Cemetery as part of “Operation Flags for Vets.” The flag placing event will be from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. May 24 at Miramar National Cemetery. The Rotary is looking for volunteers to help pull the flags at 3 p.m. May 27. Visit /upcoming-events/operation-flags-for-vets-2025.
A series of events will take place as part of the USS Midway Museum’s annual Legacy Week lineup. The Imperial Valley Master Chorale will sing on the flight deck at noon on May 24. Meet former military aviators and see the planes they flew from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on May 25. On May 26, a wreath ceremony is at 9 a.m. in remembrance of service members who died in the line of service. The event will include guest speakers, a flyover and ceremonial tossing of a memorial wreath over the ship in honor of the fallen. Also that day, there will be patriotic music by the ensemble of U.S. Coast Guard Arizona Band at 11 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. and patriotic entertainment will start at 12:30 p.m. with Bonita Vista High School’s internationally known show choir, Music Machine, performing on the flight deck. A moment of remembrance will be observed with a moment of silence at 3 p.m. Monday on the flight deck to honor those who have fallen while serving in the U.S. military. A remembrance wall and temporary exhibit with photos will be displayed May 23-26 in the Hangar Bay honoring military members. /legacy-week
A Memorial Day celebration at the Logan Heights Veterans Memorial Monument will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, May 26 at the Memorial Monument in the 1900 block of Logan Avenue across from Chicano Park. The program includes taps, raising of the flag, the national anthem, prayers, speakers and the reading of names of past veterans. Guest speakers include former Pro Bowl San Diego Chargers Linebacker Donnie Edwards, cofounder of Best Defense Foundation, serving veterans. Returning home will be U.S. Air Force Veteran Jim Estrada, local award-winning television documentary producer (retired) and CEO of Estrada Communications Group.
The nonprofit San Diego Veterans For Peace will set up its “Hometown Arlington West Memorial,” on display from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, May 26 on the front lawn of the USS Midway Museum, 910 N. Harbor Drive. Chapter veterans from five branches of services will honor several hundred comrades from Southern California who have died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. There will be memorial markers and the public is asked to stop by, read their names and reflect on their sacrifice.
The fifth annual Bouquet Ride is May 24 to honor heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the country. More than 200 cyclists are expected to join the Fallen Hero Honor Ride, which starts at 9 a.m. from California Bicycle, Inc., 7462 La Jolla Blvd. and heads to Rosecrans National Cemetery in Point Loma. Kevin, Jill and Jason Millard, owners of California Bicycle, Inc., are among the Gold Star Families that will be recognized at the event. There will be a laying of wreaths and flowers for all of the fallen, followed by brief comments. Ride time to the site is about one hour. Refreshments will be provided. On May 26, all are invited to the national Memorial Day honor ceremony at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery hosts a flag placement event at 8 a.m. May 24 at the cemetery, 1700 Cabrillo Memorial Drive, and volunteers are needed to place flags on gravesites. Volunteers are also needed to remove flags at 9 a.m. May 27. 619-553-2084.
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery hosts a Memorial Day service and Day of Remembrance at 10 a.m. Monday, May 26 at the cemetery at 1700 Cabrillo Memorial Drive. The program also features patriotic music performances. It is recommended to arrive early. Parking is off-site in the Navy parking lot east of the traffic light at Electron Drive and right off Catalina Boulevard. /cems/nchp/
SeaWorld San Diego will honor those who protect the country during Memorial Day weekend May 23 to May 26. A flag ceremony with the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Color Guard will be at 10 a.m. as the park opens. There will be fireworks to salute military members 10 minutes before the park closes. For military discounts, visit
VFW Post 3795 will host a ceremony with patriotic music, presentation of colors, Pledge of Allegiance and speakers along with scouting groups from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday at San Marcos Cemetery, 1021 Mulberry Drive. (760) 744-3795
The 20th annual Memorial Day “Hoist” to honor the fallen who died in service to the country is from 5:45 to 7 p.m. Monday, May 26 at Churchill’s Pub & Grille, 887 W. San Marcos Blvd. The event begins with Mounting of the Service Colors, then the observance, followed by a moment of silence during eight bells and the playing of taps. The guest speaker is Amy Forsythe, award-winning military photojournalist who served as a Marine and is currently in the Navy Reserves. She is author of “Heroes Live Here: A Tribute to Camp Pendleton Marines.” .
Solana Beach
A Memorial Day ceremony with a dove release will be held from 11 a.m. to noon Monday, May 26 in the Veterans Honor Courtyard at La Colonia Community Center, 715 Valley Ave. The Camp Pendleton Young Marines Color Guard will serve as honor guard. The Santa Fe Christian School Band will perform patriotic songs and doves will be released. The Veterans Memorial wall honoring Solana Beach Veterans of Foreign Wars can be viewed. Light refreshments will be available. (858) 720-2453.
A Memorial Day Military, Fire and Law Appreciation Day will be observed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, May 26 at The Wave Waterpark, 101 Wave Drive. Admission is free for active or retired military, fire or law enforcement officers on Memorial Day as a thank you for their service. Valid active-duty or retired ID must be shown at the ticket booth to receive one free admission for each ID and up to six additional tickets may be purchased for $10 each with each valid ID. Dependent IDs are valid for discount admission only, not free admission offer.
If you know about a community Memorial Day event that’s not listed here, let us know by emailing @.