As Memorial Day approaches, it’s a poignant time for our community to come together and honor the brave souls who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. For us at Welcome Home Military Heroes, this day holds deep significance as we remember the heroes who have defended our freedoms and protected our way of life.
We will host a flag line at Faces of Freedom in Atascadero, with Honor Flight Central Coast having a booth. We encourage our members to attend the flag line, but if you are not local to Atascadero, please attend one of the Memorial Day ceremonies listed below. These ceremonies serve as reminders of the sacrifices made by our servicemembers and provide opportunities for the community to come together in gratitude and remembrance.
Below is a list of Memorial Day ceremonies in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County, as well as Bakersfield.
San Luis Obispo County
-
-
- Cambria
- Time: 11:00 AM
- Location: Cambria Veterans Memorial Building
- Host: Cambria Veterans Organization
- Details: Ceremony includes a tribute to fallen soldiers, patriotic music, and a presentation of colors. David Pierson, Navy Veteran, will be Keynote speaker. Following ceremony, there will be a BBQ provided by the legion hall.
- Paso Robles
- Time: 11:00 AM
- Location: District Cemetery
- Host: Paso Robles American Legion Post
- Details: A traditional ceremony with speeches, a color guard, and a rifle salute.
- Atascadero
- Time: 11:00 PM
- Location: Faces of Freedom Memorial
- Host: Faces of Freedom
- Details: Includes a formal ceremony with local veterans’ organizations participating.
- Templeton:
- Time: 11:00 AM
- Location: Templeton Cemetery
- Date: May 27th
- Host Organization: Templeton American Legion Post 220
- Details: Gather with the Templeton community for a Memorial Day BBQ and Ceremony at Templeton Community Park. Enjoy delicious food, live music, and a heartfelt ceremony to honor the brave men and women who served our country.
- San Luis Obispo:
- Time: 11:00 AM
- Location: SLO Veterans Hall
- Date: May 27th
- Host Organization: American Legion Post 66 & Central Coast Veterans Musuem
- Details: Ceremony at 11:00 am followed by a BBQ lunch serving tri-tip sandwich plates. A special exhibit unveiled onsite in the museum on display from 10-3, “WWII in the Philippines” with 30 min exhibit talks in museum at 1:00pm and 2:00pm.
- Pismo Beach:
- Time: 11:00 AM
- Location: Pismo Beach Pier
- Date: May 27th
- Host Organization: City of Pismo Beach
- Details: Join the city of Pismo Beach to honor all those who gave all.
- Nipomo
- Time: 12:30 AM
- Location: Black Lake Golf Resort
- Host: SLO Veterans Service Collaborative
- Details: Join SLO Veterans Service Collaborative at Black Lake Golf Resort for the FREE Memorial Day concert. At 12:30, the Nipomo Veterans of Foreign Wars will host a Memorial Day ceremony and at 1pm, the concert will start.
- Cambria
-
Santa Barbara County
-
- Santa Maria
- Time: 11:00 AM
- Location: Santa Maria Cemetery
- Host: Santa Maria VFW
- Details: Ceremony includes speeches, musical tributes, and the laying of wreaths.
- Orcutt
- Time: 11:00 AM
- Location: Pine Grove Cemetery
- Host: American Legion Post 534
- Details: Ceremony includes a speech from newly elected DAV State Commander Joseph Skoda, musical tributes, and the laying of wreaths. After ceremony, you can head over to American Legion Post 534.
- Los Alamos
- Time: 11:00 AM
- Location: Los Alamos
- Host: Friends of the Los Alamos Cemetery
- Details: Ceremony includes speeches, and tributes.
- Solvang
- Time: 10:00 AM
- Location: Chalk Hill Cemetery
- Host: American Legion Post 160
- Details: Short Ceremony
- Solvang
- Time: 10:30 AM
- Location: Santa Ines Mission
- Host: American Legion Post 160
- Details: Short Ceremony
- Solvang
- Time: 11:00 AM
- Location: Oak Hill Cemetery
- Host: American Legion Post 160
- Details: Short Ceremony
- Los Olivos
- Time: 11:30 AM
- Location: St.Marks
- Host: American Legion Post 160
- Details: Short Ceremony
- Solvang
- Time: 12:00 AM
- Location: Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall
- Host: VFW Post 7139
- Details: Memorial Day Program that will include the Santa Ynez Valley Chorale, visiting guest speakers from Vandenberg Space Force Base, American Legion Post 160, and local Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops. A free barbecue luncheon for veterans and their families will follow in the American Legion Wing, hosted by the Solvang Vikings Club.
- Goleta
- Time: 09:00 AM
- Location: Goleta Cemetery District
- Host: AMVETS Santa Barbara Post 3, VFW Post 1649, and Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 218.
- Details: Ceremony featuring a presentation of colors, guest speakers, and a moment of silence. Keynote speaker: Drew Wakefield
- Santa Barbara
- Time: 11:00 AM
- Location: Santa Barbara Cemetery
- Host: Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1649
- Details: The open air ceremony includes presentations and performances by the UCSB ROTC Color Guard; Gold Coast Pipe & Drum Band; David Gonzales and the Santa Barbara Choral Society, The Prime Time Band, and a flyover by The Condor Squadron.
Guest Speakers include: LtCol Joe Ruhl, US Army Commanding Officer UCSB ROTC , BGen. Fred Lopez, USMCR (ret.)
- Santa Maria
-
Bakersfield
All dates for Bakersfield is Monday, May 27, unless mark otherwise.
- Bakersfield National Cemetery
- Date: Saturday, May 25
- Time: 9:00 AM
- Location: 30338 E Bear Mountain Blvd, Arvin, CA 93203
- Host: Bakersfield National Cemetery Staff and Volunteers
- Details: Ceremony includes a keynote address, a wreath-laying ceremony, patriotic music, and a rifle salute.
- Union Cemetery
- Time: 09:00 AM
- Location: 730 Potomac Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93307
- Host: Union Cemetery Association
- Details: The morning is to include cemetery trustee Michael Bowers serving as the Master of Ceremonies, along with comments from Cemetery Manager Griselda Hurtado. Guest speakers include Col. Ahave E. Brown Jr., Commander of the 412th Maintenance Group at Edwards Air Force Base, Assemblyman Vince Fong, Assemblywoman Dr. Jasmeet Bains, Mayor Karen Goh, and Kern County Veterans Service Officer Jose Lopez. A Garrison flag will be provided by the Kern County Fire Department. Expect a presentation of Colors by the Arvin High JROTC, special presentation by the Sons of the American Revolution, singing of the national anthem, taps and performances by the West High School Viking Band.
- Hillcrest Memorial Park and Mortuary
- Time: 1:00 PM
- Location: 9101 Kern Canyon Road, Bakersfield, CA 93306
- Host: Hillcrest Memorial Park and Mortuary Staff
- Details: Free Refreshments-Hot dog, popcorn, soda and much more. Flyover at (to be announced), Military Equipment Display, Honor Guard presentation.
- Greenlawn Memorial Park
- Time: 11:00 AM
- Location: 3700 River Boulevard, Bakersfield, CA 93305
- Host: Greenlawn Memorial Park Staff
- Details: The American Legion will conduct a commemoration service and wreath laying in Section 104. Following the ceremony enjoy a free cookout in front of the Huntington Chapel, compliments of Green Lawn Cemetery. All are welcome!
This list was compiled through research on Google, Facebook, Eventbrite and AI. If there is an event missing or an event listed that is not happening, please contact Robert Tolan at robertjr@whmh.org.