Orange County communities have a number of Veterans Day ceremonies and events planned this weekend for those who want to help in honoring their neighbors who have served this country in the military.
Here are details on several open to the community, ceremonies are planned on Saturday, Nov. 11, unless otherwise noted:
Anaheim: The city will honor those who have served with a ceremony at 11 a.m. at its veterans monument at 241 S. Anaheim Blvd. Speakers will include Navy veteran Bobby McDonald, Mayor Ashleigh Aitken and keynote speaker Alexis Federico, who was the first female instructor pilot in Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367. The Esperanza High School Choir will perform.
Anaheim Hills: The Anaheim Hills Rotary Club will again host its Flags of Honor Field at Eucalyptus Park through Nov. 12. Visitors can walk through the field and read dedications on the flags to veterans, members of the military and first responders who have served our county. On Nov. 11, at noon, there will be a dedication ceremony.
Brea: The city will pay tribute to veterans and those who died while serving their country during a 10 a.m. ceremony at the Brea War Memorial at the Civic Center. The keynote speakers will be U.S. Navy Commander Scotty Lieng and Charlotte Van Steenbergen, a concentration camp survivor.
Costa Mesa: The OC Fair & Event Center’s Heroes Hall Museum will honor veterans with a commemoration event from 2 to 4 p.m. There will be a performance by the All-American Boys Chorus and veterans service organizations will participate. The fairgrounds are at 88 Fair Drive.
Dana Point: VFW Post 9934 and its Ladies Auxiliary will join the city for a community event at 10 a.m. at Strands Vista Park, 34201 Selva Road.
Fountain Valley: The city with VFW Post 9557 and its auxiliary will honor veterans with a ceremony at 10 a.m. at Veterans Park, 17641 Los Alamos St.
Fullerton: The community’s Veterans Day ceremony will start at 11 a.m. at the Veteran’s Memorial at Hillcrest Park. This is the event’s 36th year, and it will feature patriotic music, a gun salute, laying of wreaths and remarks by Lt. Col. Peter Seitz, a member of the California National Guard. There will be no parade this year.
Huntington Beach: The city and American Legion Huntington Beach Post 133 will host a ceremony at 11 a.m. Nov. 11, at Huntington Beach Pier Plaza.
Irvine: The city will host a ceremony from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the formal garden area at Colonel Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park, 4 Civic Center. The free ceremony will pay tribute to our nation’s troops and honor local veterans and military organizations.
La Habra: The community’s recognition ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at the La Habra Community Center, 101 W La Habra Blvd.
Lake Forest: The 34th Veterans Day observance at El Toro Memorial Park will start at 11 a.m. Laguna Woods Mayor Cynthia Conners, a veteran officer of the armed forces, will speak about “Celebrating Women’s Service.” There will be patriotic performances, an honor guard firing salute and wreath laying. The memorial park is at 25751 Trabuco Road.
Laguna Beach: A ceremony hosted by the VFW and American Legion honoring all veterans who served in the armed forces will be held at 10:45 a.m. on Nov. 11, at Heisler Park, 375 Cliff Drive.
Laguna Niguel: The community’s ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at the Sea Country Senior & Community Center, 24602 Aliso Creek Road, and will feature speaker US Army Maj. Hammond M. Salley Doors. There will be a color guard and recognition of veterans in attendance. Doors open at 10:30 a.m.
Mission Viejo: The community ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center. There will be a color guard, rifle salute, performances and keynote addresses from Col. Matthew D. Lundgren, commanding officer of Headquarter Battalion, First Marine Division, and retired Army veteran Jessica Foat of Be Well OC.
Orange: The Field of Valor will be on display from Veterans Day to Nov. 18 at Handy Park, 2143 E. Oakmont Ave. The tribute features a field of flags honoring veterans and active military service members. An opening ceremony will be at 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 11 and will feature patriotic performances, a 13 Folds demonstration by the Orange Police Department Honor Guard, special remarks and more as well as a vintage plane flyover at 4 p.m.
Orange: The city will hold a tribute to veterans at 11 a.m. in front of the Veterans Memorial at Depot Park, 100 N. Atchison St.
Placentia: The city’s 35th annual ceremony will start at 10 a.m. at the veterans monument in the Civic Center, 401 E. Chapman Ave. There will be speakers, patriotic music and new banners recognizing military service will be highlighted. New additions to the veterans monument will be unveiled.
San Juan Capistrano: American Legion Post 721 and the city invites the community to an 11 a.m. gathering at Veterans Park, 31852 Camino Capistrano. There will be remarks from the mayor and a member of the American Legion and refreshments.
Stanton: The city’s ceremony honoring those who have served will begin at 9 a.m. at the Community Services Department’s Banquet Hall with breakfast, a guest speaker, a color guard and patriotic performances. There will also be a visit to the Veterans Memorial Park. Attendance requires a reservation at StantonCA.gov/Classes.
Canceled Tustin: The city will host a Veterans Day celebration and car show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Veterans Sports Park. There will be a ceremony honoring veterans, as well as resources for veterans, classic and contemporary cars on display, music, food trucks and more.
Yorba Linda: The community’s annual ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. at the veterans memorial at Veterans Park, 4750 Valley View Ave. Seaman Lloyd Clayton, Royal Canadian Navy, a veteran of D-Day, will be the keynote speaker. Mayor Gene Hernandez and Col. Thomas M. Siverts, commanding officer of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, have also been invited to speak, organizers said. The Esperanza HS Air Force Junior ROTC will present the Colors and there will be pipers from the Los Angeles Police Emerald Society Pipes and Drums. The traditional Gold Star Roll Call will be conducted.
Yorba Linda: The Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., will host a free patriotic concert at 11 a.m. saluting those who served. The Huntington Beach Concert Band will perform. There will be free admission to the museum galleries for veterans all day. Information and registration: nixonfoundation.org/events.
