Bay Area events, Mount Diablo beacon to commemorate Memorial Day
SAN FRANCISCO -- Memorial Day will be commemorated by a number ceremonies around the Bay Area on Monday, including the lighting of the beacon atop Mount Diablo at sunset to honor fallen U.S. service members.
Events include an 10:30 a.m. ceremony at the San Francisco National Cemetery in the Presidio, with a Gold Star Family wreath presentation, the U.S. Air Force Band and participation by veterans.
Across the Bay in Alameda, Memorial Day events aboard the USS Hornet Sea, Air and Space Museum will include a 10:20 a.m. performance by the Young American Patriots Fife & Drum Corps of Pleasanton, an 11 a.m. ceremony, with guest speakers and a memorial wreath toss into the bay.
In Marin County, events will include a 9 a.m. ceremony at the Marin County Veterans' Memorial Auditorium at 10 Avenue of Flags in San Rafael.
In Mill Valley, a veterans ceremony, parade and party will be held. The 9:45 a.m. ceremony will be held at Lytton Square, Throckmorton and Miller avenues. The parade starts at 10:30 a.m., starting at Old Mill Park along Throckmorton to Miller Avenue. The party afterward will be held at noon, at the Mill Valley Recreation Center at 180 Camino Alto.
Further north, the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Park Association will hold the 65th annual Sonoma Valley Joint Memorial Day Observance at 11 a.m. It includes a grand march of uniformed veterans, aerial flyover of military-inspired civilian aircraft, and community picnic. Veterans attending the grand march expected to arrive at the Sonoma Valley Veterans Memorial Park and Cemetery by 10:30 a.m.
At noon, the Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery at 1600 Franklin Avenue will hold a Memorial Day cemetery tour of veterans' graves.
In Santa Clara, the city and American Legion Santa Clara Post 419 will hold a ceremony at Mission City Memorial Park at 11 a.m., 420 Winchester Blvd.
Hillsborough holds their annual Memorial Day celebration with a parade kicking off the event at 10 a.m. followed by an observance ceremony starting at 11:30 a.m., and a carnival at the end of the parade route at North School Field at 2600 Ralston Avenue.
There are also a number of other public events in the East Bay.
The Martinez Veterans Commission holds their annual flag-raising event and official ceremony for Memorial Day with a 9 a.m. flag raising at Alhambra Pioneer Cemetery followed by a 10 a.m. ceremony at Ignacio Plaza.
At 9 a.m., San Ramon will hold a Memorial Day program at Memorial Park that features San Ramon Mayor Dave Hudson, poet laureate Jenyth Jo Gearhart-Utchen, the SRPD honor guard, and patriotic standards performed by Olympia Fields Brass Section. The event is part of the park's popular annual Art & Wind Festival.
Bay Point is holding a Memorial Day service at the Ambrose Recreation and Park District building at 9 a.m. followed by a parade at 11 a.m.
The Vietnam Veterans of Diablo Valley will hold their 31st annual Memorial Day remembrance event at Oak Hill Park with welcoming remarks from Danville Mayor Robert Storer starting with a concert by the Danville community band at 10:30 a.m.
At 10 a.m., Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland will hold their 99th annual Memorial Day commemoration.
Walnut Creek holds a Memorial Day commemoration in Civic Park at 10 a.m. that includes Mayor Cindy Silva and a keynote by retired Army and National Guard helicopter pilot Patrick Leary.
In Danville, an 11 a.m. ceremony will be attended by retired U.S. Army Major Jim Taylor and Danville Mayor Newell Arnerich, with a concert starting at 10:30 a.m.
At 5:30 p.m., there will be a Memorial Day vigil at the Lafayette hillside memorial on Deer Hill Road, between Thompson Road and Oak Hill Road across from the BART Station with Rep. Mark DeSaulnier scheduled to attend.
The Mount Diablo beacon lighting is set for 8:20 p.m., and will include the playing of taps. The beacon will shine throughout the night and be rested after sunrise on Tuesday.