REGION: Memorial Day ceremonies planned in North County

By North County Times | Saturday, May 24, 2008 5:08 PM PDT ∞

Memorial Day will be observed throughout North County on Monday with ceremonies at these times and locations:

-- OCEANSIDE ---- The combined veterans and fraternal organizations of North County will hold Memorial Day services at 10 a.m. at the Oceanside Elks Lodge, 444 Country Club Lane. In previous years, the event was held at Mission San Luis Rey but has been moved this year to the Elks Lodge. The guest speaker will be Oceanside Mayor Jim Wood. Music will be provided by Cathie and Dewey. A light lunch will be served after the ceremony. All veterans are encouraged to wear their organizational headgear and medals. Call (760) 433-0116.

-- RANCHO BERNARDO ---- The Rancho Bernardo Veterans Memorial Association will conduct its annual Memorial Day ceremony beginning at 10:40 a.m. at the lake in Webb Park, Avena Place, off Bernardo Center Drive. The speaker will be Maj. Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser, commanding general, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton.

The ceremony also will include presentation of a wreath, a volley by the honor guard, retirement of colors, music by the Rancho Bernardo High School Madrigals (directed by Lisa Friedrichs) and benediction. Call (858) 674-1711.

-- OCEANSIDE ---- Eternal Hills Memorial Park will host its annual program honoring fallen Camp Pendleton Marines at 7:30 p.m. at 1999 S. El Camino Real. The program is free. (760) 754-6600.

-- OCEANSIDE ---- Mission San Luis Rey Cemetery will celebrate a special outdoor Mass at 8 a.m. next to the Queen of Peace section in the mission cemetery. Call (760) 757-3651.

-- DEL MAR ---- A community Memorial Day service will be held at 11 a.m. at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 334 14th St. Retired Marine Col. Peter Iverson will be the guest speaker. At the end of the service, there will be a Memorial Roll Call, during which names of deceased members of the armed services will be read. The service will conclude with taps. Call (858) 755-1616.

-- ENCINITAS ---- American Legion Post 416 will hold a Memorial Day ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Cottonwood Creek Park Veterans Wall. The guest speaker will be retired Marine Col. Jack Kelly. After the service, the post will conduct a MIA/POW service at the post, 210 W. F. Street. Call (760) 434-2704.

-- VISTA ---- The Vista Garden Club and the VFW Post 7041 will conduct a Memorial Day ceremony and dedicate a Blue Star Memorial By-Way Marker at 10 a.m. in the Memorial Grove, Brengle Terrace Park, 1400 Vale Terrace Drive. The post will host its annual Memorial Day open house and pot luck beginning at noon, after the memorial services at Brengle Terrace Park. Guests are invited. Those who wish to bring a dish should have it in disposable containers. "The Orbitz," a band that plays classic rock music, will perform from 1-5 p.m. Call (760) 724-2383 or (760) 724-7041.

-- ESCONDIDO ---- The Allied Veterans Council will hold its annual Memorial Day ceremony at 10 a.m. at Oak Hill Memorial Park, 2640 Glen Ridge Road. Call (760) 746-7931.

-- FALLBROOK ---- A Fallbrook High School sophomore, a World War II veteran and an Iraq war veteran will be the featured speakers at this year's Memorial Day program, taking place at 11 a.m. at the Masonic Cemetery at 1177 Santa Margarita Drive. Call (760) 728-8784.

-- SOLANA BEACH ---- The city of Solana Beach and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5431 will jointly host a Memorial Day Ceremony from 11 a.m. to noon at the Veterans' Memorial at La Colonia Community Park, 715 Valley Avenue. The Young Marines Color Guard will perform, the Santa Fe Christian School band will play patriotic songs, and retired Army Maj. Alan Reeves will be the special guest speaker. City dignitaries and representatives from all branches of the armed forces also will be present. Light refreshments will be served. Call (858) 793-2564.

-- SAN DIEGO ---- Veterans for Peace, Hugh Thompson Memorial Chapter 91 San Diego will conduct Memorial Day observance from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in the park on San Diego Bay next to the USS Midway. There will be a reading of the names of the more than 4,000 who have fallen in Iraq. The ceremony also will honor those who have died in Afghanistan and in all wars throughout America's history. Call (858) 361-6273 or (760) 419-8650.